DFID has co-financed programmes with UNDP, UNICEF and the World Bank to promote the education of women and girls in Pakistan since 2004.
The sum of £6 million was committed in 2006 to UNDP’s Gender Support Programme (2006-11). This includes training of women in the garment industry, training of women councillors, and support to improve the way in which education sector budgets address gender issues.
Another £3.5 million was committed in 2007 to UNICEF’s Gender Education Policy Support Project which is supporting the development and promotion of policies that address the problem of gender disparity in Pakistan’s education system.
A further £0.7 million was also committed in 2007 to support a World Bank project to establish a National Education Assessment System that has significant gender components. DFID funds are helping to improve education policy by assessing gender differences in learning achievements in both primary and secondary education.