From knowledge to empowerment: Evaluating financial literacy and gender equitable attitudes in adolescent girls in Ghana

Financial literacy is crucial for empowering adolescent girls, particularly in low-and middle-income countries where gender inequities hinder access to education and financial independence. This study evaluates the impact of the Girl Rising Financial Education Initiative (GR FEI) in Ghana, a 24-session curriculum, with sessions occurring once a week, integrating storytelling and multimedia tools to foster gender-equitable attitudes and norms and financial literacy among middle-school-aged girls. Utilizing a quasi-experimental design with pre-and post-test assessments, data were collected from 582 participants at baseline and 581 at follow-up across 11 schools. Results revealed significant improvements in gender-equitable attitudes, with an increase of 0.108 points in adjusted multivariable models (p<0.001). In addition, results demonstrated significant improvements in financial literacy, particularly in distinguishing between emergency and goal-oriented savings, and in recognizing necessary versus discretionary spending. These findings highlight the program’s potential to empower adolescent girls through financial education and social norm change.