The Girls' and Women's Education Policy Research Activity (GWE-PRA)

The Girls' and Women's Education Policy Research Activity (GWE-PRA), implemented by World Education in cooperation with the Harvard Graduate School of Education and the Education Development Center, was initiated to provide a better understanding of the constraints facing girls' and women's education and to identify creative approaches for addressing them. Longitudinal studies were carried out in Bolivia, Honduras, and Nepal to measure the developmental impact of integrated literacy and basic education programs that combine literacy with health and other areas. More specifically, these studies examined changes in knowledge, attitudes and practices of women on indicators of social and economic development related to economic participation, health, nutrition, community involvement and civic participation. Additionally, in Bolivia, World Education provided technical assistance to four local NGOs in developing, implementing and monitoring an integrated approach to adult education. In Peru, World Education and a local women's organization conducted a six-month study that examined factors affecting the school dropout rate of adolescent girls in rural areas, focusing specifically on the effects of menarche on girls' participation in school. The findings of these studies are providing decisionmakers with information to make more informed decisions about educational programs and policies and to increase educational opportunities for girls. (2001)