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Cleo Blackman

Cleo Blackman, Programme Manager, DFID DRC

I joined DFID in 2007 after working in the private sector as a new media coordinator for 5 years. I have worked in Private Office (in DFID and Cabinet Office), on policy in Communications and the Committee on Standards in Public Life, on programmes and strategy in the Helmand PRT and am currently in Kinshasa, DRC, developing a new economic empowerment and research programme for adolescent girls in partnership with Girl Hub.

Why DRC’s youth need to take a stand to empower girls' lives

In DRC half the female population aged 15 to 24 are illiterate. Only 10% of girls reach some secondary level of education. Picture: DFID DRC

The Girl Summit 2014 is an important global campaign for DRC, where an estimated 39% of girls are married between the ages of 15 and 18  – and probably younger in rural areas. And that figure needs caveating with the …

Challenges and opportunities: International Women's Day in Afghanistan

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Afghanistan, Girls & Women

Around International Women’s Day recently, the PRT here had a number of female-focussed visits, including Baroness Warsi and the NATO Secretary General’s wife. Earlier in the same week, Justine Greening, the DFID Secretary of State gave a speech on the importance of tackling …