The global economy depends on women and girls. Through paid and unpaid work, women and girls form the backbone of our societies. Most of us were raised by women. Taught by women. Guided by women. And supported by women and girls. Yet, despite carrying all this weight on their shoulders, women and girls are often not afforded the opportunities to seek their aspirations or financial independence to achieve them. It’s as if all their hopes and dreams depend on decisions made in rooms that don’t include them.  

Award-winning U.S. playwright and poet Ntozake Shange said it best: "Where there is a woman, there is magic." How can we experience this magic if the girl child isn’t given the platform and resources to thrive?

Since 2011, every year on Oct. 11, the world unites to celebrate the International Day of the Girl Child, a powerful reminder of the struggles and triumphs of girls everywhere. This day seeks to raise awareness about the harsh realities many girls face and emphasizes the urgent need to promote their empowerment and fulfillment of their human rights.

Girls’ Vision for the Future
This year’s theme, “Girls' Vision for the Future,” reflects the pressing need for action and enduring hope embodied by girls around the globe. The theme is a clarion call to address the challenges girls face while uplifting their vision for a future of equality, opportunity, and empowerment. 

At the recent Global Citizen NOW Health and Climate Financing sessions in New York, women’s economic power was the topic of a dynamic and powerful discussion led by heavyweights working at the intersection of global development, public health, and equitable economies. 

Pemmy Majodina, South Africa’s Minister of Water and Sanitation; Dr. Kemi DaSilva-Ibru, founder of Women at Risk International Foundation (WARIF); Lydia Charles, founder and Executive Director of Her Initiative; and Mavis Owusu-Gyamfi, Executive Vice President of the African Center for Economic Transformation, delivered an impassioned call to action. 

The session underscored women’s undeniable power in driving the global economy forward. Majodina issued a rallying cry for targeted financial support, especially for African women, whose contributions to economic growth are often stifled by systemic barriers. 

And Charles urged world leaders to “Show women the money!” adding that economically empowering women isn’t just beneficial — it’s crucial to achieving worldwide prosperity and building the resilience needed to combat global issues such as climate change.

Investing in girls during their formative years — especially in health, education, and financial literacy — can transform their future. If effectively supported, today’s girls can grow into tomorrow’s leaders, entrepreneurs, and mentors, steering their communities and the world toward a more equitable and sustainable future. 

The Silent Struggles
While the world celebrates girls’ resilience and strength, it is impossible to ignore the profound financial disparity that continues to affect their lives. Shockingly, it will take 134 years to close the gender gap globally in economic participation and opportunity. Women still earn 23% less than men on average globally, and for girls in marginalized communities, the outlook is even bleaker.  

Studies show that today a $1.7 trillion financing gap exists for women entrepreneurs globally – and despite the potential for women to turbocharge our global economy, legal and structural barriers keep them on the sidelines. Today 96 countries do not prohibit discrimination in access to credit based on gender-limiting girls’ potential to contribute meaningfully to their economies. Closing these gaps could potentially raise global GDP by more than 20%.  

Mavis Owusu-Gyamfi also addressed important findings that impact gender inequity at the Global Citizen NOW Health and Climate Financing sessions. “Our new transformation report [at the African Center for Economic Transformation] looks at how gender inequity slows down transformation on the African continent,” she explained. “Three things matter the most: perceptions, policy, and power. This persistent belief that if you are a female, you are somehow less capable or less worthy of equality is really holding back our transformation.” 

She further urged, “We need to increase women’s representation and visibility in policy-making, in business, and in public life. Not just at the top, but at all levels so that we can change that perception around our capability and so that young people can see it as a norm, and break the historical, structural normative value.” 

The stark reality, though, is that nearly one in four girls between the ages of 15 and 19 are not being educated, working, or in some sort of training, compared to just one in ten boys. These young girls are often trapped in cycles of poverty, forced into early marriages, or burdened with unpaid care responsibilities that stifle their potential. This glaring inequality perpetuates a future where girls’ ambitions are stifled, and their dreams depend on decisions made by men in positions of power. 

Owusu-Gyamfi highlighted one way that power structures become so imbalanced. “The imbalance is having such a negative impact on our society. That imbalance starts at the household level, within our communities, and in the way our traditional leaders perceive us. We need to reframe who holds power in our societies.” 

She further noted an interesting finding in her research: We don’t measure the power balance of economic development and growth. “We don’t have either the qualitative or quantitative data to show that if you cede power today, men, it’s a win-win situation if it’s balanced. So, the important thing is that we need to start measuring power and the impact of power balance and power equity on our development as a continent.” 

Financial Freedom: A Pathway to Empowerment
Financial independence is more than just a means to an end — it is a lifeline for women and girls. It gives them the power to shape their own destinies, pursue education, and contribute to their communities. When introduced to girls at a young age, financial literacy is a powerful tool that equips them to break the chains of poverty.

Consider this: Across low-income countries, on average the completion rates for girls in secondary school remain significantly lower than those for boys. Currently, only 38% of girls finish lower secondary education, while 43% of boys achieve the same milestone. This disparity highlights girls’ ongoing challenges in accessing education in these regions. Education is one of the most effective ways to break cycles of poverty, offering a path to stable and sustainable futures. Beyond education, financially empowered women are more likely to seek healthcare for themselves and their families, creating healthier communities in the long run.

Furthermore, evidence shows that women reinvest, on average, 90% of their income back into their families and communities, compared to 30-40% for men. When girls are given the resources to build their own futures, the positive impact is felt not just within their own lives but in the broader fabric of society.

A Global Movement: Girls Leading the Way
Despite continued threats to their health, safety and rights, today’s girls are rising up to challenge the barriers imposed by stereotypes, exclusion, and systemic inequality. Whether as entrepreneurs, innovators, or leaders of global movements, girls are actively shaping a world that is relevant to them and future generations. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), adopted by world leaders in 2015, serve as a roadmap to a more equitable future.

Achieving gender equality is central to these goals, particularly regarding economic growth, climate change, and global sustainability. Girls are already crucial in solving the world’s most pressing challenges, but they cannot do it alone. 

We need to reflect on the courage and vision of girls. Let us also remember that their potential is limitless. The world’s 1.1 billion girls hold the power to reshape the future if they are given the support, resources, and opportunities they need. When girls lead, families, communities, and economies are all stronger, and our shared future is brighter.

As Global Citizens, it’s important for us to not only reflect on the day but to take action. We need to demand that our leaders invest in girls, support their bodily autonomy and financial independence, include them meaningfully in decision-making, and accelerate progress toward a world where every girl can fulfill her potential. With the right investments, we can create a future where girls are no longer left behind but are at the forefront, driving change, solving problems, and leading us toward a more just and equitable world.