1.2 Structure

The report is divided into two parts. The first part contains the following three chapters: (1) An examination of the international evidence concerning the benefits of female education; (2) A review of the literature that outlines the nature and extent of gender disparities in education in the BDDCA region; and (3) An overview of the main factors which have shaped gender inequalities in education. The second part of the report consists of four chapters (5-8) that focus on strategies to promote the education of both girls and women. It assesses the impact of policies and other interventions employed in Africa and highlights particular initiatives which could be effectively replicated in the Southern African context. The report is completed by a list of research priorities and recommendations for BDDCA.