UK Halts Higher Education Initiative for Women and Girls Amid Budget Cuts
Overseas education project for women and girls – The British government has suspended a high-profile higher education program, Strengthening Higher Education for Female Empowerment (SHEFE), just two years after its launch. Designed to keep 1 million girls in school across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, the initiative was withdrawn by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), marking a significant setback for global efforts to support women’s education. The program originally had a £45 million budget to expand access to higher learning for students worldwide, but its tender has now been cancelled without prior explanation.
A Bold Vision for Gender Equality
Launched by the previous Conservative administration, SHEFE was intended to bridge gaps in educational opportunities for girls and women. The scheme aimed to empower them through advanced learning, with a focus on reducing early marriages and domestic violence. By investing in higher education, the government hoped to create long-term economic benefits, as educated women are more likely to earn higher incomes and contribute to their communities. However, these aspirations have been halted due to recent aid budget reductions.
Yvette Cooper, the current foreign secretary, had previously emphasized her dedication to women and girls, stating that their safety and rights were a global priority. In a May address, she highlighted the FCDO’s role in advancing gender equality through international partnerships. Yet, despite this rhetoric, the decision to cancel SHEFE underscores a growing disconnect between policy statements and funding allocations.
Broader Impacts of the Cuts
The axing of SHEFE is not an isolated incident. Last year, the FCDO Girls’ Education Department faced a 51% reduction in funding, affecting educational programs in countries like Ethiopia, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, and Zimbabwe. Additionally, the Home Office has restricted new study visas for applicants from Afghanistan, Sudan, Myanmar, and Cameroon, limiting access to higher education for women in those regions. These actions have raised alarms among experts who argue that such cuts undermine the UK’s commitment to global development.
Joseph Nhan-O’Reilly, co-founder of the International Parliamentary Network for Education, criticized the government’s approach, stating:
“The government talks up its commitment to women and girls but at every turn it denies the world’s most marginalised girls the thing that everyone agrees has the biggest impact on their lives and that of their communities: access to higher education.”
He pointed to the cancellation of the Education for All program in South Sudan, a £150 million scheme targeting girls and children with disabilities in one of the world’s poorest countries. This project was meant to address extreme educational disparities, where literacy rates are among the lowest globally.
Experts Warn of Global Consequences
Analysts warn that the UK’s recent aid cuts could reverberate internationally. Unicef estimates that international education funding will decline by $3.2 billion (£2.4 billion) by 2026, representing a 24% drop. This reduction threatens to push 6 million more children out of school by year-end, with 30% of them in humanitarian crises. For context, this number is equivalent to emptying all primary schools in Germany and Italy combined.
According to a Bond spokesperson, UK programs supporting women and girls are vital to combating gender-based violence and exploitation.
“Any cuts to programmes that support women and girls, including through education, threaten to reverse hard-won progress on ending gender-based violence and exploitation, and advancing gender equality worldwide.”
The speaker also noted that public opinion remains strong in favor of protecting these initiatives, citing More in Common polling that showed the majority of UK citizens support safeguarding women’s education from budget reductions.
Consistency in Policy Contradictions
Charalambous, the Labour MP who leads the all-party parliamentary group on global education, highlighted the inconsistency in the government’s actions.
“I’m alarmed that a flagship higher education programme designed to empower women and girls and help them achieve their potential appears to have been scrapped because of the aid cuts,”
he said. He stressed that the FCDO has long recognized the transformative power of educational partnerships, which not only uplift communities but also strengthen domestic institutions through collaboration.
The cuts have been part of a broader trend, with the UK following the US in reducing international education funding. Nhan-O’Reilly noted that this shift could set a dangerous precedent for global development efforts. “These cuts can’t be seen on their own; they’ve set the tone and influenced the posturing of other donor nations,” he added. The implications are far-reaching, as education remains a cornerstone of social and economic progress.
Rebuilding from the Backlash
As the UK’s international education initiatives face scrutiny, stakeholders are calling for a strategic response to mitigate the damage. The cancellation of SHEFE and similar projects has sparked debates about the government’s priorities and its ability to deliver on promises. With the aid budget shrinking, there is a pressing need to rethink how resources are allocated to ensure continued progress for women and girls.
Despite the setbacks, the potential benefits of the program remain clear. Girls who gain access to higher education are up to six times less likely to marry young and are less vulnerable to partner violence. They also tend to earn more, creating a ripple effect that benefits entire communities. The FCDO’s decision to withdraw SHEFE has left many questioning how these gains can be preserved amid financial constraints.
Industry leaders in education and international development are urging the government to take immediate action. “We urge the foreign secretary to uphold her commitment to prioritising the safety, human rights, and economic opportunity of women and girls around the world,” said a Bond spokesperson. The call for renewed investment comes at a time when global challenges—such as conflict, displacement, and poverty—require more, not less, support for education.
A Call for Accountability
The suspension of SHEFE has drawn criticism for its abruptness and lack of transparency. While the government has acknowledged the importance of education in empowering women, the decision to cut funding without a clear plan for alternatives has left many stakeholders frustrated. The program’s proponents argue that this move risks undoing years of progress and sends a mixed message about the UK’s dedication to gender equality.
As the debate continues, the focus remains on how to rebuild and sustain efforts in education. With the aid budget under pressure, creative solutions will be needed to ensure that the most vulnerable girls are not left behind. The coming months will be critical in determining whether the UK can reconcile its global commitments with its domestic priorities, or if these cuts signal a lasting shift in its development strategy.
