The UK government’s decision to cancel the £45 million Strengthening Higher Education for Female Empowerment (SHEFE) programme has renewed questions about how higher education opportunities for African girls can be sustained as international development funding declines.

Launched in 2024, the initiative was designed to expand higher education opportunities for more than one million women and girls across Africa, Asia and the Middle East.

It aimed to strengthen universities, increase female enrolment and research participation, and address barriers such as financial constraints, discrimination and safety concerns that continue to prevent many young women from completing tertiary education.

Less than two years later, the programme has been discontinued as part of broader reductions in the UK’s overseas development spending.

For Africa, the implications extend beyond the loss of a single donor-funded project. Across the continent, higher education remains one of the strongest pathways to economic independence, improved health outcomes and greater gender equality.

Research consistently shows that girls who continue their education are more likely to delay child marriage, avoid gender-based violence, participate in the labour force, make informed health decisions and invest in the wellbeing and education of their own children.

Yet access to university remains out of reach for many. Financial hardship, limited university spaces, insecurity, gender discrimination and family pressures continue to force thousands of capable young women, particularly those from rural and low-income communities, to abandon their education after secondary school.

While the end of the SHEFE programme removes one source of support, the challenges it sought to address remain pressing.

Yet the end of one programme does not mean progress has stopped. Across Africa, governments, universities and civil society organisations are already testing approaches that could provide more sustainable pathways for girls to access higher education.

Targeted scholarship programmes are helping close financial gaps for women pursuing degrees in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

Organisations such as the WAAW Foundation continue to support African women studying STEM disciplines through scholarships, mentorship and leadership development.

In Tanzania, Her Initiative is using digital skills training, mentorship and entrepreneurship programmes to help young women transition successfully into higher education and employment, while organisations in Ghana are working to increase women’s participation and visibility in STEM careers.

Long-term investments are also demonstrating lasting impact. Evaluations of programmes supporting girls through secondary education have found that beneficiaries are more likely to progress to tertiary education, secure sustainable employment and delay early marriage.

Meanwhile, countries such as South Africa have achieved comparatively high levels of female participation in higher education, demonstrating that sustained national investment and supportive education policies can significantly improve access, even as disparities remain in STEM fields.

Universities themselves are introducing practical reforms. Flexible learning opportunities, mentorship networks, stronger policies against sexual harassment and partnerships with international institutions are helping create safer and more supportive environments for female students and academics.

These initiatives recognise that improving access is only one part of the challenge; ensuring girls can complete their education and thrive once enrolled is equally important.

These approaches matter because they build resilience. Rather than depending solely on short-term donor-funded projects, sustainable progress comes from strengthening national education systems, increasing domestic investment and building long-term partnerships between governments, universities, the private sector and civil society.

Blended financing models that combine public investment, philanthropy and private sector support can also help protect education programmes when international funding priorities shift.

Challenges, however, remain significant. Many African universities continue to grapple with funding shortages, overcrowded classrooms, ageing infrastructure and rising tuition costs that place higher education beyond the reach of many families. Continued reductions in global development assistance risk slowing progress unless governments and development partners accelerate investment in locally driven solutions.

The end of the SHEFE programme may mark the close of one international initiative, but it also highlights an important lesson: lasting progress for African girls will depend not only on donor support but on sustained national investment, strong partnerships and education systems built to endure beyond individual funding cycles.

As African governments, universities and communities continue investing in girls’ education, the opportunity remains to create pathways that are not only accessible but resilient enough to withstand changes in global funding priorities.