The Echidna IV Project is a regional initiative led by FAWE to drive systemic change in girls’ education through evidence-based advocacy, gender-inclusive pedagogy, and strengthened multi-stakeholder collaboration. Implemented across Nigeria, Zanzibar, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the project responds to persistent gender inequalities that continue to limit girls’ access to quality education despite significant progress across Africa.
Over the past two decades, the continent has made notable strides in advancing girls’ education, including increased enrolment and stronger political commitment. However, deep-rooted socio-cultural barriers, conflict, poverty, and weak policy implementation continue to exclude many girls from education particularly in fragile and marginalized contexts. Classroom-level inequalities, limited gender-responsive teaching practices, and restricted participation of girls in leadership further reinforce these disparities.
Echidna IV directly addresses these challenges by strengthening education systems and communities through a comprehensive and evidence-driven approach. The project focuses on institutionalizing Gender Responsive Pedagogy (GRP), empowering communities through models such as Mothers’ Clubs and girls’ leadership platforms, and advancing policy reforms through strategic advocacy at national, regional, and global levels.

Programme Objectives

The project seeks to:
I. Promote accessible, equitable, and inclusive learning for girls through strengthened policy implementation at regional and national levels.
II. Enhance education systems by institutionalizing and integrating Gender Responsive Pedagogy into teacher training and classroom practice.
III. Strengthen institutional and technical capacity within the FAWE network to support localized education reforms and multi-stakeholder collaboration.
IV. Generate and utilize evidence and learning to inform policy, scale effective interventions, and drive gender-transformative education across countries.
Through this programme, FAWE is enhancing the capacity of its network and partners to deliver gender-transformative education, while generating and using data to inform policy and practice. By fostering partnerships with governments, civil society, and regional bodies, the project promotes sustainable and scalable solutions that improve access, retention, and learning outcomes for girls.