In 2015, President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama launched Let Girls Learn, a global U.S. government initiative to expand access to education for adolescent girls. The U.S government has invested more than $1 billion in new and ongoing programs to support adolescent girls’ education in over 50 countries across the globe, including more than $100 million in new funds requested in the FY 2017 budget. In the past year and a half, the U.S. government has worked with nearly a dozen partner countries and more than 100 non-profits and companies that have made commitments to support girls’ education.

Looking toward the future, it is clear that educating girls is among the most strategic and effective investments that the U.S. government can make to achieve its foreign policy objectives and promote sustainable development. Advancing girls’ education is not just a moral imperative. It is a necessity for stronger global security and inclusive economic growth, which in turn enhances the national security of the United States. Ensuring that a nation’s girls are educated unlocks human potential on a transformational scale, advancing progress in every arena. When a girl receives a quality education, she is more likely to earn a decent living, raise a healthy, educated family, and improve the quality of life for herself, her family, and her community. A world in which girls are educated is a safer, more stable, and more prosperous place.