Nairobi, 16 February 2026 – The Dutch government is investing €50 million (USD 59 million) to protect girls in East Africa from Harmful practices, including female genital mutilation (FGM) and child, early, and forced marriages. With this support, Amref Health Africa, together with Plan International country offices, and local civil society organisations, and in collaboration with the governments of Kenya, Ethiopia, and Somalia, today launched Future4Binti — a five-year programme (2026–2030) to be implemented across the three countries.
East African countries have made measurable progress in reducing harmful practices over the past decade, particularly in areas where sustained, community-led approaches have shifted social norms and strengthened protection systems. However, significant challenges remain. In Ethiopia, 65% of women have undergone FGM, and 40% are married off before turning 18. In Kenya, national FGM prevalence has declined to 15%, yet nearly one in four girls still marry before 18. In Somalia, FGM is nearly universal (99%), and early marriage continues to affect more than a third of girls.
The impact on girls is profound. FGM can cause lasting physical and psychological harm, as well as risks during pregnancy and childbirth. Child marriage often leads to early pregnancies, school dropouts, and limited opportunities for independence, perpetuating intergenerational inequality. Crisis factors such as poverty, conflict, migration, and climate change further increase the risk that harmful practices will return.
“For too long, harmful practices have limited the potential of our girls,” said Nice Leng’ete, Founder of Nice Place Foundation. “While we have seen meaningful progress in reducing FGM and child marriage across East Africa, progress made possible through sustained community leadership and the committed support of partners such as the Government of the Netherlands, those gains remain fragile. The Future4Binti initiative is therefore a critical investment in sustaining and accelerating this momentum. Girls deserve to stay in school, grow up safe, and make informed choices about their own lives. This programme strengthens our ability to protect girls today while empowering a generation to shape its own future with dignity and confidence.”
“Africa’s greatest asset is its young population. But we must ask ourselves: what are the chances that a young person reaches 18 with their full human capital potential intact? Harmful practices such as FGM, early marriage, and teenage pregnancy rob girls of that potential before it can be realised. If we are serious about achieving the aspirations of Agenda 2063 and building prosperous, self-reliant nations, we must confront the barriers that limit opportunity from the very beginning,” said Dr Githinji Gitahi, Group CEO of Amref Health Africa. “This programme goes beyond service delivery. It is about shifting social norms from within communities, strengthening local capacity, expanding access to quality services, and ensuring that every girl regardless of where she is born, grows up with safety, dignity, and opportunity.”
Future4Binti builds on years of experience in combating FGM and child, early and forced marriages. The programme targets not only girls, but also families, communities, healthcare systems, and governments – national and sub-national. Because these harmful practices stem from deep-rooted gender inequality and power imbalances, the programme focuses on lasting change in social norms, improved protection, quality healthcare, and effective legislation.
The programme will also strengthen frontline healthcare providers and expand access to quality, survivor-centered medical and psychosocial services for girls and women affected by harmful practices.
Harmful practices do not stop at national borders. In some cases, stricter enforcement in one country has led families to cross into neighboring countries to circumcise or marry off daughters. By working simultaneously in Kenya, Ethiopia, and Somalia, Future4Binti strengthens regional coordination to ensure that protection mechanisms are aligned and that girls are safeguarded wherever they live.
The programme focuses on:
- Challenging harmful social norms that restrict girls’ rights and opportunities
- Empowering girls and youth to use their voice, exercise leadership and advocate for change
- Increasing economic independence so girls can make their own choices
- Expanding access to quality healthcare, legal protection, and psychosocial support
- Strengthening laws, enforcement, and cross-border cooperation
Future4Binti prioritises locally led implementation. Most of the programme funding will be directed to grassroots civil society organisations that are deeply rooted within their communities.
These partners will:
- Facilitate community dialogues with elders, religious leaders, and parents for ownership and collaboration to end the harmful practices.
- Train health workers and frontline responders for improved quality, survivor-centered services for girls and women affected by harmful practices.
- Support safe spaces and shelters for girls at risk
- Strengthening referral and reporting systems
- Engage boys and young men as allies in promoting gender equality.
Support from the Netherlands
The Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs supports Future4Binti because of the proven effectiveness of earlier programs such as Yes, I Do, Break Free!, and Power to You(th), which focused on girls’ rights, gender equality, and youth participation.
“Female genital mutilation and child marriage violate girls’ right to choose over their own bodies and their right to safety and education. Girls’ rights are not charity; they are fundamental to progress,” says Peter Derrek Hof, Ambassador for Women’s Rights and Gender Equality.
With Future4Binti, the Governments of Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia, Amref Health Africa and its partners with support by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, are taking a clear course: investing in what works, placing responsibility locally, and scaling up where girls and young women need protection most.
Notes for editors
Press Contact
Maureen Cherongis
Media Relations Officer, Amref Health Africa, HQ
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About Amref Health Africa
Amref Health Africa, headquartered in Kenya, is the largest Africa-based international health and development organisation providing training and health services to over 20 million people annually in at least 30 countries in Africa. Amref Health Africa continues to evolve and innovate the approaches to increase sustainable health access among communities.
Amref manages a full range of medical and public health programmes tackling the most critical health challenges facing the continent – including global health emergencies, communicable and non-communicable disease, neglected tropical diseases, maternal and childcare, as well as water, sanitation and climate change. Much of our credibility with local communities and African governments stems from the relationship and trust that we have built over the past 68 years. years. Our subsidiaries include Amref Flying Doctors and the Amref International University.