What we do

We partner with children, families and communities to advance children’s rights and equality for girls, today and for the long term.

Focused on girls. Driven by impact.

We work around the world to tackle the root causes of inequality that hold children back, especially girls. Our programs are shaped by evidence, guided by communities and led by girls themselves. Together, this work creates lasting change that reaches far beyond a single project or place.

How our work comes together

Our work with girls

Girls are leaders, partners and decision-makers in our work. Through GirlEngage, our girl-centered approach, we listen to girls, support their leadership and work alongside them to remove the barriers standing in their way.

What we focus on

From education and protection to health and economic opportunity, our focus areas address the challenges that shape girls’ lived experiences. Together, they create the conditions girls need to learn, lead, decide and thrive.

Initiatives

We mobilize around key global moments to elevate voices, shift systems and push for progress on issues that affect girls and women worldwide.

Youth advocacy programs

Young people have the power to shape the decisions that affect their lives. Through our youth advocacy programs in the United States and globally, we support young leaders to speak out, influence policy, and drive change on issues that matter to them and their communities

Stories from our work

Plan International staff member distributing resources.

What is World Humanitarian Day and why does it matter?

Aug 19, 2026

Plan staff distribute hygiene kits to families who lost their homes from an earthquake in Venezuela. On a hot day in Amhara, Ethiopia, Tihtina, a

1,000 Days of war: Gaza’s children continue to pay the heaviest price

Jul 03, 2026

Today, July 3, marks 1,000 days since the October 7, 2023 attacks in Israel and the ensuing escalation of war that has devastated lives across

Devex: As aid dries up, Plan International accelerates support for women

Mar 25, 2026

Global funding for women’s organizations is in crisis. Ninety percent have faced cuts, and nearly half expect to shut down by 2026. Plan International CEO

Foster parents Yuri and Nadia sit on a couch surrounded by their nine foster children of varying ages in their home in rural Ukraine.

Ukraine’s lost children find a loving home

Mar 13, 2026

Yuri, 54, and Nadia, 49, with their foster children. | © Plan International / Mirja Vogel In a small, rural village 50km outside the central

STATEMENT: Plan International condemns deadly drone attack on school in Sudan’s White Nile state

Mar 12, 2026

A drone attack hit a school in Shukeiri village on Wednesday, killing 17 people — mostly schoolgirls. Other civilian infrastructure, including a health centre, has

A teacher serves primary school children in Kilifi County, Kenya, as they queue to receive a meal of rice, lentils and dried vegetables through Plan International's school feeding program.

School meals bring children back to the classroom in drought hit Kilifi

Mar 11, 2026

Girls share a meal of rice, lentils and dried vegetables at school in Kilifi County, Kenya. For many, it is the only meal they will

International Women’s Day: Why women’s leadership begins with girls

Mar 05, 2026

Aprille survived a super typhoon at 13. Today she is a teacher and climate advocate helping her community prepare for the next storm. Her story shows why girls’ education is the foundation of women’s leadership — and why International Women’s Day begins with girls.

STATEMENT: Escalating military conflict in Iran and the Middle East

Mar 02, 2026

Plan International is deeply alarmed by the escalating military conflict in Iran and the Middle East, which puts children at grave risk. Of particular concern

Four years into the war in Ukraine: What do children need now?

Feb 24, 2026

Four years into the war in Ukraine, children continue to face trauma, disrupted education, and displacement across Ukraine and Eastern Europe. As the crisis shifts from emergency response to long-term recovery, sustained investment in mental health, protection, and education is critical to prevent irreversible harm.

School Matters, part 2: When getting to school is not safe or simple

Jan 26, 2026

Children across Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia face daily risks just to get to school. Part 2 of School Matters explores how safety, distance and economic pressure shape who can keep learning.