Grant Proposal Synopsis Education is both a human right and a powerful tool for strategic development investment, women’s empowerment and enhancing economic and social development of societies (McCleary-Sills et al., 2015; Somani, 2017; Sheikh & Loney, 2018). As an important tool for women empowerment, education creates a multiplier effect for women since educated women are healthier and engage more in the formal labor market. However, girls’ enrollment and completion of primary and secondary schools remains to be a major issue in developing countries (McCleary-Sills et al., 2015). Gender inequalities in education persist in many developing countries despite measures that have been undertaken to expand educational opportunities for women across the globe (Ostby, Urdal & Rudolfsen, 2016). Jamal (2016) states that girls’ education in developing issues remains a controversial issue across political, economic, social, and religious domains.

Based on empirical evidence, Somani (2017) recommends several strategies that would help address the lack of basic...

Many studies have shown that girls’ access to basic education in developing countries can be improved through programs and strategies that focus on expanding economic opportunities, providing financial incentives to attend school, enhanced community involvement, and eliminating gender disparities (McCleary-Sills et al., 2015; Jamal, 2016; Sheikh & Loney, 2018). Ostby, Urdal & Rudolfsen (2016) suggest that state willingness is the most influential factor in promoting girls’ access to basic education in developing countries rather than capacity factors. While these five studies have examined education of girls in developing countries, none of them has addressed willingness factors comprehensively since they have focused on capacity factors. In essence, the studies fail to address the willingness of girls in developing countries to attend and complete primary and…