UK Axes £45m Overseas Education Programme for Women and Girls

The British government has withdrawn the tender for the Strengthening Higher Education for Female Empowerment (SHEFE) programme, a scheme that was designed to keep one million girls in school across Africa, Asia and the Middle East. The decision, announced by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), follows a broader reduction in aid spending that has impacted several overseas development initiatives.

SHEFE was unveiled two years ago by the outgoing Conservative administration with a £45 million budget to increase access to higher education for 1 million students worldwide. The programme was intended to provide scholarships, mentorship and infrastructure support to girls in regions where educational opportunities are limited. However, the FCDO confirmed that the tender has been withdrawn, effectively halting the rollout of the scheme.

With the cancellation, the UK will no longer fund the SHEFE initiative, leaving the target of one million girls without the promised support. The move underscores the impact of recent aid cuts on international development projects aimed at promoting gender equality and educational attainment.