Introduction : High boy/ girl ratios are more evident in secondary education especially in rural areas. Policies and action are therefore needed to ensure that the drop out rate for girls is reduced and to create more opportunities and an enabling environment for girl’s education. Objectives : The objectives of this policy study were to reduce poverty and ill health in the long run by reducing gender disparity in the secondary schools and trade school in Namitembo; to remove some of the barriers to girls continuing their education and to bring the issue to wider attention through community sensitisation and publicity.
Methods : Through problem identification, situation and stakeholder analysis and community committee meetings, a policy report was written for a small charity that was setting up a project in a rural area of Malawi. Results : Seventy five (75) girls who had dropped out of school were selected by the community to receive a bursary which would enable them to continue their education at secondary school or the trade school. The policy to pay school fees for the girls was chosen for the first phase of the project as this was seen to be the greatest barrier preventing girls from finishing their education. Conclusions : Community participation, problem and stakeholder analysis enabled a small charity to set up a project in a rural area of Malawi by determining real needs, potential constraints and building consensus in the identification and design stage. It also enabled them to produce the log frame necessary for its successful implementation and evaluation.