The government, with the help of its partners such as the UNDP and the European Union, has made women's literacy a priority. The Ministry of Women and the Family and the National Union of Djiboutian Women are on all fronts to bring the maximum number of women out of illiteracy. A program that is working quite well and has enabled thousands of adult women to discover the pleasures of reading and writing and get out of the darkness of illiteracy.

A functional education strategy comprising a three-level program was put in place and the preparation of manuals for female learners, the development of teacher's guides and the organization of training sessions for trainers, the annual organization of evaluation tests to measure the knowledge and skills of beneficiaries and the translation of manuals into national languages. All the ministerial departments and civil society were mobilized to participate in the national effort for women's literacy. For the MFF and UNFD, the aim is to improve the quality of adult education in general and thus reduce by 50% the illiteracy rate of girls and women in the country by 2025.

Mr. Abdillahi Omar Ibrahim, former Inspector of National Education works as a consultant with the Ministry of Women and Family. He developed this new national adult literacy strategy, which is of paramount importance for the socio-economic development of the Djiboutian population. According to this education expert: "Raising the level of education of our mature citizens in vulnerable situations through effective large-scale literacy training is an investment in the future. For it is commonly recognized that a country cannot claim to be competitive in the context of globalization if its population is predominantly illiterate. »

"This national literacy strategy is part of Vision 2035. It aims on the one hand to make the largest number of Djiboutians literate in general and on the other hand to strongly reduce in particular the illiteracy rate of women".

Ibado, the fifties, the keen eye is among those women who have benefited from this literacy program. Today she too feels invested with a mission: that of training her compatriots who have not had the opportunity to follow this program.

"By the grace of God, I am autonomous because I manage my own store and I write down all the expenses and income. Previously, I used to call on my children's services to keep the accounts.  I intend to pass on what I have just mastered," she says with a smirk on her face.

Djibouti aims to bring out of illiteracy 12,000 women per year, according to the Ministry of Women and Family.  "Women are the core of national development. That is why adult women's literacy is essential for the economic growth of the country, because it allows them to develop their skills, build and strengthen their economic independence," according to the same source.

The social and economic benefits of literacy programs have long been known. Children of literate parents are more likely than others to have access to education. A child whose mother can read is 50% more likely to survive beyond grade five. As for women who have assimilated the basic skills of reading and writing, they more easily develop an economic activity that enables them to better provide for their family's needs (care, hygiene). One literate woman is worth two, one could say.

Within the framework of a program entitled "Consolidation of the empowerment of women and girls", the Ministry of Women and Family with the assistance of UNDP and the financial support of the European Union has set itself the objective of reducing gender disparity and strengthening the integration of women. It includes a national literacy program, training and support for the economic empowerment of women. The gender observatory is strengthened, quality planning services are available and used by the beneficiaries within the framework of this program.

"This project covers peri-urban areas around Djibouti City and rural areas in the five regions of the interior of the country where the degree of inequality and vulnerability is particularly high. "We read on the document signed between the MFF and UNDP.

The overall objective of this project is the reduction of gender disparity through support for the implementation of policies of the Ministry of Women and Family (MFF) in terms of gender mainstreaming. It is in line with the European Union gender policy, is part of the National Indicative Program of the 11th EDF and will contribute to the implementation of the National Gender Program of the Republic of Djibouti.  It will contribute to the sustainable development objectives of Agenda 2030, in particular objective 5 (achieving gender equality and the promotion of women and girls). Other objectives will be objective 3 (health and well-being),

4 (quality education), 8 (decent work and economic growth), 10 (reduced inequalities), 11 (sustainable cities and communities) and 16 (peace, justice and effective institutions).

The target beneficiaries of this project are mainly vulnerable women and girls residing in peri-urban and rural areas who will be empowered and better protected.

All these efforts of the government for women's literacy demonstrate, if proof were needed, that women's education is a priority.  A merciless struggle is underway to overcome illiteracy which affects a large segment of the female population.