The launch of Future4Binti. /Photo; Amref Africa
A €50 million initiative has been launched to protect girls in East Africa from harmful practices, including female genital mutilation (FGM) and child, early, and forced marriage.
The funding, provided by the Dutch government, will support a five-year regional programme known as Future4Binti (2026–2030).
The initiative is being led by Amref Health Africa in partnership with Plan International country offices and local civil society organisations, in collaboration with the governments of Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia.
The programme comes amid both progress and persistent gaps in the fight against harmful practices across the region.
Over the past decade, sustained community-led efforts have contributed to measurable declines in FGM and child marriage in several areas. However, national data show the challenge remains significant.
In Ethiopia, 65% of women have undergone FGM and 40% are married before the age of 18. In Kenya, national FGM prevalence has declined to 15%, yet nearly one in four girls still marry before turning 18.
In Somalia, FGM remains nearly universal at 99%, while early marriage continues to affect more than a third of girls.
The consequences for girls are long-term and often life-altering. FGM can cause severe physical and psychological harm, including complications during pregnancy and childbirth.
Child marriage frequently leads to early pregnancies, school dropouts and limited economic opportunities, reinforcing cycles of poverty and gender inequality.
Stakeholders involved in the initiative warn that crisis factors such as poverty, conflict, migration and climate change increase the vulnerability of girls and risk reversing gains already made if interventions are not sustained and scaled.
“For too long, harmful practices have limited the potential of our girls,” said Nice Leng’ete, Founder of Nice Place Foundation.
“While we have seen meaningful progress in reducing FGM and child marriage across East Africa progress made possible through sustained community leadership and committed partners those gains remain fragile. The Future4Binti initiative is therefore a critical investment in sustaining and accelerating this momentum. Girls deserve to stay in school, grow up safe, and make informed choices about their own lives.”
Dr Githinji Gitahi, Group CEO of Amref Health Africa, said addressing harmful practices is essential to unlocking Africa’s demographic dividend and development ambitions.
“Africa’s greatest asset is its young population. But we must ask ourselves: what are the chances that a young person reaches 18 with their full human capital potential intact? Harmful practices such as FGM, early marriage, and teenage pregnancy rob girls of that potential before it can be realised. If we are serious about achieving the aspirations of Agenda 2063 and building prosperous, self-reliant nations, we must confront the barriers that limit opportunity from the very beginning,” he said.
Future4Binti builds on earlier programmes that have focused on girls’ rights and youth empowerment, including Yes, I Do, Break Free! and Power to You(th), which demonstrated the impact of community-driven approaches in shifting social norms and strengthening protection systems.
The new programme adopts a comprehensive model that targets not only girls, but also families, community leaders, healthcare systems and government institutions at national and sub-national levels.
Because harmful practices are rooted in deep-seated gender inequality and power imbalances, the initiative prioritises long-term social norm change, improved legal enforcement, quality healthcare services and stronger protection mechanisms.
A regional coordination component is central to the programme. In some instances, stricter enforcement in one country has led families to cross borders to circumcise or marry off daughters.
By working simultaneously in Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia, the partners aim to strengthen cross-border cooperation and align protection systems to ensure girls are safeguarded wherever they live.
Future4Binti will focus on;
Challenging harmful social norms that restrict girls’ rights and opportunities,
Empowering girls and youth to exercise leadership,
And advocate for change, increasing economic independence so girls can make informed life choices, expanding access to quality healthcare and psychosocial support, and strengthening laws and enforcement.
A significant portion of the funding will be directed to grassroots civil society organisations deeply rooted in local communities.
These partners will facilitate dialogue with elders, religious leaders and parents, train frontline health workers to provide survivor-centred services, support safe spaces and shelters for girls at risk, strengthen referral and reporting systems, and engage boys and young men as allies in promoting gender equality.
“Female genital mutilation and child marriage violate girls’ right to choose over their own bodies and their right to safety and education. Girls’ rights are not charity; they are fundamental to progress,” said Peter Derrek Hof, Ambassador for Women’s Rights and Gender Equality.
With the five-year programme set to begin in 2026, the governments of Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia, Amref Health Africa and its partners say the investment represents a renewed commitment to scaling what works placing responsibility locally while strengthening regional cooperation to ensure that girls across East Africa grow up safe, educated and empowered.
About Amref Health Africa
Amref Health Africa, headquartered in Kenya, is the one of the largest Africa-based international health and development organisation providing training and health services to over 20 million people annually in at least 30 countries in Africa.
Amref manages a full range of medical and public health programmes tackling the most critical health challenges facing the continent including global health emergencies, communicable and non communicable disease, neglected tropical diseases, maternal and childcare, as well as water, sanitation and climate change.
Help us tell more untold stories of African Philanthropy!
