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Welcome – Bienvenido – Bienvenue

It’s been a busy second quarter of 2023 as we have been preparing for our presence at the Women Deliver 2023 Conference taking place in Kigali, Rwanda from 17th July- 20th July.

We will host two concurrent events at the conference which speak to our Call to Action that demands for donors and decision-makers to shift power and resources to adolescent girls and young feminist-led organisations.

This newsletter includes more information on #AGIPatWD2023, our new website (go check it out!), two new AGIP member organisations, and an update from our Adolescent Girls Advisory Committee (AGAC).

In solidarity,

The Adolescent Girls Investment Plan (AGIP)

French and Spanish translations are now accessible. We will continue to work on making these available in our newsletter format – please bear with us whilst we grow our skills in this area.

AGIP at Women Deliver!

We can’t wait to meet you at WD2023 in Kigali, Rwanda, in a few weeks! You can find us here:

1. Concurrent event: Where is the money? Funding adolescent girls and young feminists

   This intergenerational dialogue, hosted by adolescent girls, brings together adolescent girls, young feminist-led organisations, donors, researchers, and intermediary CSOs to identify challenges, showcase innovative solutions, and workshop what needs to shift to make funding more accessible for adolescent girls and young feminist-led initiatives. 

   
   

2. Concurrent event: No more excuses! Accountability mechanisms for girls and young women  

   This session, facilitated by young people, showcases approaches to achieving accountability for adolescent girls and young women in all their diversity. We will hear from diverse stakeholders on challenges, solutions, and commitments which advance power being shifted to adolescent girls - nothing about them, without them. 

   
   

3. Exhibition booth: No 62

   We will be hosting an interactive session daily between 11:30am-12:30pm (local Rwanda time) targeting adolescent girls, young women, stakeholders and donors

Come say hello, and help us to advance participatory resources and accountability mechanisms for adolescent girls!

The Adolescent Girls Advisory Committee Journey!

It’s been an exciting four months with our girl advisors!

We have taken it slow to enable ample time for our advisors to get to know each other and familiarise themselves with the AGIP ecosystem as well as the many opportunities it presents for their leadership. So far, this included co-creating and co-facilitating the monthly meetings, democratically selecting two AGAC representatives to hold seats on the AGIP Board, exploring more ways to bridge and strengthen the connection between AGAC and AGIP Board members, getting our Board members to sign-up for mentoring our Girl Advisors.

We are keen to nurture a space where our Girl Advisors experience a sense of solidarity with each other through a Buddy system and dedicated time during each meeting to get to know one another better. We have loved every moment of learning together, but do hear from our Girl Advisors themselves as they reflect on their experience of being part of the Adolescent Girls Advisory Committee so far:

I think such models give girl leaders a safe space to interact and share knowledge with each other. In this way, they get more encouraged to step up as leaders or carry out leadership roles.  

Misati, 18, Kenya, Adolescent Girl Advisory Committee – AGIP 

I had never been part of such a global committee so I really think I will learn a lot about: working with language barriers and respect. I look forward to putting my perspective as a Peruvian woman! And by this I hope I can open spaces for more Peruvian girl teenagers in international decision-making spaces. 

Ximena, 19, Pérou, Adolescent Girl Advisory Committee – AGIP 

I have really enjoyed the buddy system so far. My partner Rushna is honestly incredible and a lot like me which is insane because it feels like we are worlds apart.
I enjoy learning about what makes our lives unique from each other and how she has tackled dealing with gender and animal inequality in her country Pakistan because it is something that I am passionate about in my country as well. 

Jaliyah, 23, Barbados, Adolescent Girl Advisory Committee – AGIP 

What really stood out for me is being given the opportunity to get to know each other better during the monthly meetings and it is done skillfully as each time we go into breakout rooms. Personally, I always get to engage with new people and learn some interesting facts from them. The questions are also chosen perfectly in that they make you remember something small about someone and carry it with you. 

Elizabeth, 20, Kenya, Adolescent Girl Advisory Committee – AGIP 

Stay tuned for more updates on the learning and celebrations from the advisor’s journey!

AGIP’s New Members!

Since our call for new members in March, the AGIP Board has endorsed 5 organisations to join our coalition. We look forward to onboarding our new members over the coming months - two of which have already joined. This is what they had to say on their motivation to join AGIP:

1. Breakthrough

   What motivates us to join  AGIP are the following:

   • Inform our work from experience/learnings from different country contexts

   • Our adolescent girls will be privy to a global platform to share their stories and achievements, influence decision and policy makers and be part of a change-making process.

   
   

2. Restless Development

   We believe that being a part of AGIP will be a great opportunity for Restless Development to share expertise on youth engagement, resources, research and thought leadership in this coalition.  

We are thrilled to have Breakthrough and Restless Development in the AGIP space!

AGIP’s New Website!

We have a new website! Over the past months we’ve worked hard to deliver an interactive website for you to have a fun and easy experience of all that we’re about. Check it out, and let us know if anything doesn’t seem to work. French and Spanish translations are in the works, as are ideas on how to bring the voices of the girls we work with even more to the forefront.

From our Members