Global Scholars Program
Promoting Girls’ Education in Developing Countries
The Center for Universal Education (CUE) at Brookings works to build expertise on girls’ education policies and programs in developing countries. Through our Global Scholars Program, CUE hosts guest scholars from developing countries for a six-month period to pursue research on global education issues, with a specific focus on improving learning opportunities and outcomes for girls. Upon completion of their research, CUE will support the guest scholars in developing and implementing a plan to share their expertise with their home institutions to further build research capacity and expertise.
The Global Scholars Program fits within the broader
Global Compact on Learning work-stream by aligning the research plans of the guest scholars with a shared research agenda that will be developed in partnership with academics and operational agencies.
January - July 2012 Center for Universal Education Guest Scholars
Pamhidzayi Berejena Mhongera | Zimbabwe
Projects Manager at MicroKing Savings and Credit Company in Harare, Zimbabwe
Ms. Berejena manages donor funded microfinance projects aimed at building sustainable livelihoods for vulnerable groups in poor urban and rural communities in Zimbabwe. Her research at the Center for Universal Education focuses on how the microfinance model can be used to promote girls’ education by establishing affordable schools and learning centers in poor communities throughout Zimbabwe. In addition to her work at
MicroKing Savings and Credit Company, she is the founding member of
Blossoms Children Community, a private voluntary organization supporting orphans and other vulnerable children and their families. For 10 years, Berejena worked as a human resources officer, salaries and benefits manager, and compensation and staff wellness manager for Kingdom Financial Holdings Limited. She has also worked with
Mercy Corps,
International Relief and Development,
Practical Action and the
International Labour Organisation to plan and implement their microfinance projects. Berejena is a Ph.D. candidate working on her social studies dissertation at the University of Zimbabwe. She has a M.S. in development and project planning from the University of Bradford in the United Kingdom and a B.S. in sociology and gender development studies from Women’s University in Africa.
Mary Otieno | Kenya
Lecturer of Educational Planning and Economics of Education Research at Kenyatta University in Nairobi, Kenya
Prior to joining Kenyatta University, Dr. Otieno worked as a research executive for
Research International TNS in addition to her role as an instructor at a government primary teacher training college. Her research at Brookings focuses on the establishment of education mentorship programs for girls living in rural areas of Kenya. Otieno received her Ph.D. in educational planning and economics of education research from Kenyatta University, where she analyzed Kenya’s education policies and internal factors that inhibit change. She is also currently a member of
Women Education Researchers of Kenya (WERK) and
Nyanza Education Women Initiative (NEWI); both these initiatives promote girls’ education through enhanced participation and mentoring. Dr. Otieno’s principal areas of research include capacity building and networking, specifically pertaining to gendered education.
Babita Rana | Nepal
President and Chairperson of Power to the People Nepal in Kathmandu, Nepal
In an effort to promote the well-being of women and children, Ms. Rana established
Power to the People Nepal — a non-profit organization that supports vulnerable and socially-excluded groups through mobilizing village clusters to build self-reliance, empowering girls and women as change agents and forging effective partnerships with local organizations. Her research with CUE looks at how education can help combat child trafficking in conflict zones. Prior to establishing the organization, Rana led a women’s entrepreneurship development program for economic empowerment as project director at
Business Service Centre (BSC) Project. Before joining the BSC Project, she worked with the United Nations Population Fund in Nepal as a research assistant and program associate. Rana holds masters degrees in sociology from Tribhuvan University in Nepal, and in women’s and gender studies from San Francisco State University. She received her B.A. in economics also from Tribhuvan University.