A program that will teach job skills to young women in developing countries in Africa and the Middle East has received $20-million, reports The Washington Post.

The World Bank, the Nike Foundation, and several European governments have created the Adolescent Girls Initiative to improve young women’s access to credit and help them find stable employment.

“Our greatest resource overall in breaking the cycle of poverty is the adolescent girl,” said Mark Parker, Nike’s chief executive. “We’re building a bridge between relevant training and real jobs that helps accelerate the economy.” The company has given $3-million to the program.

Despite the financial crisis, Goldman Sachs said it would not break its commitment to spend $100-million over five years to provide business education to 10,000 young women in developing countries.