Kate Kiama on the Girls First Institute

The Girls First Institute is Girl Rising's locally led network of women and grassroots organisations working alongside girls in their own communities. Here, Kate Kiama, Girl Rising's VP of Global Programmes, shares what drives the Institute, what it produces, and why this moment matters.

Q - What inspired the creation of the Girls First Institute, and what gap was it designed to address?

Kate - The Girls First Institute was inspired by our many years working alongside community-based organisations. The women leading these innovative organisations consistently expressed a strong desire for professional development. But their budgets were limited. We saw a clear need for affordable, high-quality, and continuous professional development tailored specifically for the women leading girl-focused programmes in the regions where we work. The Institute was created to address this need.

Q - What core skills or insights do participants gain through the Girls First Institute that set them apart as leaders?

Kate - Participants gain practical tools they can use right away — from designing stronger programmes for girls to mentoring young people and creating safe, supportive spaces to learn and grow. A core part of the training also focuses on sexual and reproductive health and rights, equipping leaders to support girls who face challenges such as early and forced marriage, gender-based violence, and limited access to education and healthcare.

They learn how to respond to these realities with care while building programmes that protect girls' well-being and expand their opportunities. Participants also strengthen their organisations and join a global network of women leaders who share ideas, support one another, and work together to create lasting change for girls.

Q - What sets the Girls First Institute apart from other leadership programmes focused on gender equity?

Kate - Unlike many leadership programmes, the Girls First Institute is designed specifically for women leading local, community-based organisations. The training is shaped by what participants say they need most, rather than a one-size-fits-all curriculum, ensuring it's practical and relevant to the communities they serve.

Participants receive free, accessible resources in multiple languages, along with tools they can immediately use in their own programmes. Just as important, they become part of a global network of women leaders who share ideas, support one another, and collaborate across countries. This combination of practical learning and community helps leaders strengthen their organisations and create lasting change for girls.

Q - How does the Institute help ensure that girls are not only educated, but respected and heard?

Kate - The Institute trains mentors to create safe, brave spaces where girls' voices shape decisions, deepening their agency and ensuring their priorities and perspectives guide the work. It also supports the women who work most closely with girls, giving them practical tools to listen, collaborate, and meaningfully involve girls in shaping programmes and activities.

Just as importantly, the Institute works with organisational leaders to recognise the value of including girls in decision-making — from advisory groups to leadership discussions — so that programmes are truly shaped by the experiences, ideas and aspirations of the girls they serve.

Q - What kind of ripple effect have you seen when local women leaders are equipped with the right tools and support?

Kate - When local women leaders are equipped with the right tools and support, they strengthen their programmes, amplify girls' decision-making power, and build girls' confidence and autonomy, inspiring broader community change. We also see increased collaboration among organisations, which is critical since the challenges girls face require concerted, sustainable efforts, particularly in advocacy. Beyond that, there is emerging anecdotal evidence of shifts in the attitudes of cultural, religious and community leaders towards supporting girls' rights — showing that the seeds of this work are beginning to take root and create lasting impact.

Q - What becomes possible for communities when programmes like the Girls First Institute receive sustained support?

Kate - When programmes like the Girls First Institute receive sustained support, communities benefit from stronger, more effective local organisations that can consistently support girls' education, health and leadership.

Even small seed grants and the credibility that comes with being part of the Institute, can help these organisations build a track record that attracts additional support. Over time, this steady investment strengthens local leadership and creates lasting, positive change for girls and their communities.

Q - Why is now such a critical moment to invest in girls' leadership and education?

Kate - Now is a critical moment to invest in girls' leadership and education because, while we have seen some progress, systemic barriers such as forced marriage, gender-based violence, poverty and limited access to quality education continue to restrict girls' opportunities. Even as global priorities shift or funding landscapes deprioritise girls' issues, these challenges remain — and any rollback of support risks setting progress back by decades. Sustained investment is essential to break these barriers, maintain momentum, and ensure that the gains we have made translate into lasting, equitable outcomes for girls.

Q - What changes when girls are given the tools and platform to advocate for themselves?

When girls are given the tools and opportunities to speak up and lead, they grow in confidence and begin to see new possibilities for their own lives. They are better able to stay in school, make informed choices about their futures, and pursue the paths that matter most to them.

This isn't about asking girls to solve the challenges around them on their own. It's about ensuring they are listened to, supported and included in decisions that affect their lives. When girls are respected and able to participate fully, they contribute to stronger families, more connected communities and more equitable societies — not because the responsibility rests on them, but because their voices and leadership matter.

Q - What continues to motivate you in this work, even when progress feels slow?

What keeps me motivated, even when progress feels slow, is the deep belief in the work we do and the knowledge that our strategy — investing in girls and the women who lead programmes for them — is one of the surest ways to create lasting change. I am continually inspired by the stories of girls who have broken barriers and achieved goals they once thought were out of reach, and by the dedication of grassroots, women-led organisations committed to making a difference every day. Seeing these lived realities reminds me that even small steps matter, and it fuels my hope and determination to expand this impact with more partners and allies championing girls and their organisations.

Q - If every girl had access to the support and leadership opportunities the Institute champions, what would the world look like?

Kate - If every girl had access to the support and leadership opportunities the Institute champions, the world would be one where girls have the agency to shape their own futures and the freedom to pursue their dreams on their own terms. They would live fuller, more self-determined lives, contributing to their communities in ways that reflect their choices and strengths — not out of obligation, but because they are supported to lead. In such a world, cycles of inequality would be challenged, not because girls are expected to solve systemic problems, but because supporting them to lead naturally strengthens families, communities and society as a whole.

The Girls First Institute is open to women-led, locally-led organisations working with girls aged 9–22. Learn more at girlrising.org.