violence at or on the way to school.
Mr Johnson made education for girls a priority of his time as foreign secretary, when he signed the UK up
to a safe schools declaration, committing to the protection of educational institutions during military
operations.
With tackling inequality a key theme of the G7 summit of world powers in Biarritz, he will tell fellow
leaders that it cannot be achieved without a global commitment to girls’ education. The UK aid money will
support the work of the global fund for education in emergencies, Education Cannot Wait, which the UK
helped to set up in 2016.
Mr Johnson said that the “cycle of instability” in some developing countries could only be broken by
equipping the adults of tomorrow with learning and skills.
“It is girls that suffer most growing up in societies marred by violence. We owe them better,” he said.
“Girls’ education is the Swiss Army knife that solves a multitude of the world’s problems. Everyone benefits
from a world where girls have the same opportunities as their brothers. I pledged on the steps of Downing
Street to ensure that every girl in the world gets 12 years of quality education. I’m proud that today’s
announcement will help us do that.”
The prime minister also announced new funding for female entrepreneurs across Africa, giving them
training and mentoring to help manage their businesses.