| Trailblazers Mentoring Foundation (TMF) has signed a landmark Programme Cooperation Agreement (PCA) with UNICEF to implement the Cash Plus Component of the Gender for Development Uganda (G4DU) Programme. G4DU is a multi-agency, government-led initiative funded by the European Union (EU) and coordinated by the Ministry of Education and Sports (MoES). It is delivered through partnerships with UNICEF, KfW, Enabel, and the Spotlight Initiative to collectively advance the rights and wellbeing of adolescent girls in Uganda. TMF’s role focuses on the UNICEF-led Cash Plus intervention, which seeks to support 5,000 vulnerable adolescent girls enrolled in 64 Universal Secondary Education (USE) schools across seven districts in Northern Uganda and the West Nile sub-region—Nebbi, Adjumani, Lamwo, Yumbe, Kitgum, Oyam, and Madi-Okollo. The targeted schools are located in both host and refugee communities. The Cash Plus Component aims to improve girls’ transition from primary to secondary education, boost retention, and ensure completion of lower secondary school (Senior 1 to Senior 4) over four years (2024–2028). Each verified beneficiary will receive termly cash transfers via their parents or guardians, helping to reduce financial barriers that often lead to school dropout. The Cash Plus Component goes beyond financial support. TMF is adopting a comprehensive “mentorship-plus-cash” approach that combines cash assistance with structured mentorship, referrals to critical services, and active parental engagement. Peer mentors will be trained and deployed to deliver in-school mentorship, build relationships with beneficiaries, and link girls to health, education, and protection services. This integration aims to build the girls’ resilience, reduce their vulnerability to teenage pregnancy and gender-based violence, and help them realize their full potential. The programme also engages communities to shift harmful gender norms, promote girl-friendly school environments, and strengthen local systems that safeguard adolescent girls. In addition to direct support to girls, TMF is conducting school-level meetings with parents and community leaders to increase awareness of the programme, correct misinformation, and galvanize community commitment to girls’ education. By signing this PCA, TMF strengthens its mission of empowering adolescent girls through innovative, rights-based programming. With G4DU, TMF and its partners are not only expanding access to education but also redefining the future for thousands of girls across Uganda. |
