Girls account for over half of the 30 million children in Africa who do not attend school because of economic hardships or other adverse circumstances. The USAID-funded Ambassadors Girls Scholarship Program (AGSP) provides scholarships and mentoring support to primary and secondary school children in 40 countries in sub-saharan Africa.

   FHI360 is responsible for implementing the AGSP in 15 different nations in East and Central Africa. The main objective of AGSP is to provide access to and retain girls from disadvantaged backgrounds in school. FHI 360 has provided more than 188,000 scholarships in the 15 countries where it currently operates.     

   The key to the program’s success is partnership with over 36 local organizations in Africa who partner with FHI 360 to deliver scholarships and mentoring to the children.  These civil society partners advocate for gender equality in education and promote the advancement of girls and women.

   Through the program most scholars participated in mentoring programs, developed and conducted by mentors, addressing life skills, the rights of girls and women, and HIV and AIDS. The mentoring materials have been compiled in a "Girls' Mentoring Resource Guide," in the English, French and Portuguese languages, and is available electronically.