The Girls First Institute Certification Programmes support community-based organisations to deepen their skills, strengthen their programs, and improve outcomes for girls.
Programmes
Certification
Our Certification Programmes provide:
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Intensive training and funding for young and Indigenous founders, who are turning successful projects into ongoing community initiatives
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Cohort-based learning through training, peer exchange, and coaching, with certification earned via demonstrated learning and programme improvement
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Grounding in three core pillars: girl-centred design, feminist mentorship, and sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR)
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Support for internal systems, including monitoring and evaluation, safeguarding practices, and resource mobilisation
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Customisation based on the specific needs of the girls and communities they serve
Girl-centred mentoring
Supports organisations to design programmes grounded in girls’ lived realities, voices, and needs, to maximize impact
Feminist mentoring for girls
Builds mentoring approaches that create safe spaces where girls can access information, develop confidence, and strengthen their leadership and decision-making
Sexual & reproductive health & rights
Equips organisations to address the real challenges girls face around relationships, safety, menstruation, and bodily autonomy through age-appropriate and girl-centred programming
Each programme is designed for a specific region and cohort using participatory methods that centre the needs of both the organisations and the girls they serve.
Current Certification Cohorts
Ellas Al Frente
Ellas al Frente invests in Central American women-led organisations that are shifting focus to girl-centered programmes to combat rising gender-based violence. Our goal is to improve education, health, and life outcomes for girls.
Central America
Girl-centred Incubator
The Girl-Centered Incubator is a programme for female, community-based, youth founders who are working to secure rights and transform outcomes for girls in their community.
East Africa & South Asia
Advanced Certification
A one-year certification programme supporting 29 organisations to design stronger girl-centred programmes, with a focus on sexual and reproductive health and rights
Uganda