Maputo — Britain’s Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg, on Thursday launched the Fund for Girls’ Education in Mozambique, budgeted at six million pounds sterling (about 9.3 million US dollars) provided by the British government’s Department for International Development (DFID).

The project seeks to assist about a million girls living in poverty to have the opportunity to improve their lives through education.

Clegg, who was accompanied by the Minister for International Development, Lynn Featherstone, said that such projects have proved to be successful in keeping girls in good quality education, and are vital for helping African women emerge from poverty, disease and domestic violence.

“African women should drive economic growth in Africa, and should not be led into poverty and dependence”, he said. “From what I see today, I am convinced that providing girls with a good education is the most effective thing we can do to break the cycle of poverty”.

Mozambique’s Deputy Education Minister, Arlindo Chilundo, declared that the British government’s gesture will have a significant impact on the fight against poverty.

“This project will help in terms of resources, and also in making communities aware that girls must attend school, and not be constrained by society”, he said,

The programme will be implemented in three provinces (Tete, Manica and Gaza), and will be run by a consortium of civil society organisations, headed by the British NGO Save the Children.