What is Girl-Centered Design?

All children should experience life on equal terms — at home, within their families, in friendships, during education life, on the street, and in every space they use, exist, live in. However, girls in particular are often exposed to multiple forms of discrimination due to their age and gender roles. Gender stereotypes can lead to the neglect of girls’ developmental needs, limiting their freedom, dreams, capabilities, bodily autonomy, and access to education. Girls often face challenges and obstacles that are not always addressed in mainstream planning processes.

Girl-Centered Design (GCD) is an approach that prioritizes girls’ circumstances, unique needs, experiences, perspectives, and expectations when designing spaces, institutional policies, programs, and content. With this approach, we can create appropriate, accessible, and effective solutions for girls of diverse ages and backgrounds — and ultimately support them to have a voice and agency in decisions about their own lives.

Core Components of Girl-Centered Design,

• Creating inclusive and safe spaces for all girls
• Supporting girls to have a leading voice in decisions that concern them
• Discovering and addressing girls’ unique needs
• Creating spaces and offering opportunities for girls to use and develop their skills
• Providing enabling environments and conditions for girls to realize their freedom of expression and right to participation
• Designing safe processes where girls can socialize with their peers
• Connecting girls with supportive networks and role models that strengthen their sense of belonging and equality