Operating in Banadir, Hirshabelle, Jubaland and South West states, the programme is focused on improving access to quality education for young Somali women and girls.

With $17.6 million in UK Aid, AGES is currently supporting 42,000 marginalised adolescent girls to access primary school, accelerated basic education and non‐formal courses tailored to their needs.

With the additional USAID funding, nearly 40,000 more marginalised adolescent girls and young women aged 15 to 24 who have never attended school will get the chance to improve their lives through the 11‐month non-formal education course. The joint funding will also provide support to young women to engage in income-generating activities and civic education, in addition to providing linkages to other development opportunities.

The announcement comes ahead of the July 28-29 Global Education Summit. Along with Kenya, the UK will be co-hosting this event, aimed at raising $5 billion to ensure that all children, particularly those in developing countries including Somalia, have equitable access to quality education.

British Ambassador to Somalia Kate Foster said:

The UK-funded Adolescent Girls Education in Somalia programme has made significant contributions to the lives of tens of thousands of young Somali women. With this new USAID funding, we are expanding our approach to reach even more marginalised households and communities. It will build their resilience by providing young Somali women basic financial, literacy, numeracy and life skills.

USAID Somalia Mission Director Patrick Diskin said:

USAID is very excited to contribute to this successful UK-led initiative in order to provide more young Somali women with a foundational education they lack, yet so rightly deserve. These skills will provide women with increased livelihood and civic opportunities, which are critical for advancing Somalia’s economic and social development.

Access to primary education remains a major challenge in Somalia, particularly for girls. According to the 2020 Somali Health and Demographic Survey, only 27 percent of primary school‐aged children are receiving primary education, and only 25 percent of them are girls.

Sixty-five percent of young women aged 20 to 24 have not attended school at all or have only some primary education, compared to 53 percent of young men of the same age.

Multiple barriers affect access to education for adolescent girls in Somalia. The combination of the COVID‐19 outbreak and economic conditions has further worsened the exclusion of the most vulnerable adolescent girls and young women from education opportunities.

Housing and local government experts are being invited to apply to join Homes England’s Board, Government has announced.

Following the appointment of new Chief Executive, Peter Denton, the agency is now looking to bolster its leadership team by adding up to three new Non-Executive Directors.

In particular, it is looking for a senior leader from the following areas; housebuilding and development, affordable housing, local government, or construction.

Led by Chair Peter Freeman, Homes England’s Board is tasked with providing strategic leadership to the agency and promoting long term, sustainable success, ensuring the delivery of its strategic objectives.

The positions come at a pivotal time, as the agency enters a new phase.

Peter Freeman, Chair of Homes England, said: “As the country moves beyond its current challenges, Homes England’s role has never been so important.

“We are working closely with the Government to be an even stronger institution that can galvanise a housing-led recovery, connecting other ambitious organisations and using our resources to work strategically across the country to create jobs, homes, and long-term partnerships in places. Homes England’s Non-Executive Directors play a vital role in this, which is why we are looking for passionate, dynamic leaders to join us.”

Peter Denton, currently Chief Executive of the Hyde Group, will take up his post at Homes England later this year. He has a strong track record of working in strategic leadership and Board roles at large scale global real estate, banking and not for profit organisations.

Applications are now open and will close 12 August 2021. More information about the roles and how to apply can be found on the Government Public Appointments website.

The COP President, Alok Sharma, has welcomed Barbados’ plans to be fossil fuel free by 2030 during his visit to the country.

Barbados has confirmed its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) which includes reducing the emissions from 7.7 tonnes per year per person to 2.3 tonnes, as well as an unconditional commitment to a fossil-fuel free electricity sector and transport by 2030.

During his two day visit Mr Sharma met with the Prime Minister, Mia Amor Mottley, and senior members of her government to discuss how the two countries can work together ahead of the COP26 summit later this year in Glasgow. They agreed on the need for urgent action to keep 1.5 degrees within reach and to work together to call on G20 countries to step up urgent climate action.

They also agreed to exchange expertise and help identify practical solutions to climate impact challenges, especially those faced by Small Island Developing States (SIDS) like Barbados.

Barbados has been a long-time promoter of renewable energy and Mr Sharma met with leaders from across the industry who are involved in implementing a clean energy transformation across the country.

He also saw first hand the challenges faced by the vital tourism industry in his visit to the Sir Richard Haynes Boardwalk. To combat the effects of climate change and help protect the world-famous Barbadian beaches, the boardwalk provides coastal stabilisation, flood protection, water quality control and recreational services.

The UK understands the vulnerability and challenges faced by small island developing states (SIDS) and Mr Sharma reaffirmed the commitment to advocate for them in the run up to COP26.

Mr Sharma said:

“Barbados continues to show climate change leadership and I welcome their announcement of an enhanced NDC and their ambitious commitment to be free from fossil fuels by 2030.

“As COP President I am committed to working closely with those countries who are the most vulnerable to the devastation climate change can cause, and these are often the countries who are causing the least damage.

“I am committed to ensure those voices are heard loudly and everyone understands the challenges they are facing. Together we are calling on all G20 countries to deliver urgent climate action for the sake of climate vulnerable communities across the world.

“The COP26 summit later this year is our best chance of safeguarding the planet for everyone, building a brighter future and keeping the 1.5C target alive.”