Overseas education project for women and girls axed by UK after two years

<p>The programme, aimed at keeping 1m girls in school across Africa, Asia and the Middle East, withdrawn after aid cuts</p><p>A leading higher education programme, aimed at keeping 1 million girls in school across Africa, Asia and the Middle East, has been axed by the British government just two years after it was announced.</p><p>The scheme, Strengthening higher education for female empowerment (SHEFE), which was <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/women-and-girls-across-africa-asia-and-the-middle-east-to-benefit-from-a-new-uk-higher-education-programme">unveiled with some fanfare</a> two years ago by the outgoing Conservative government, had a £45m budget to increase access to higher education for 1 million students worldwide. It has now had its tender withdrawn, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) said.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2026/jul/04/overseas-education-project-for-women-and-girls-axed-by-uk-after-two-years">Continue reading...</a>