SWEDD

The Effects of Adolescent Girls Clubs: Evidence from a Multi-Country RCT in Five West African Countries  (joint with O. Bertelli, C. Boxho, E. Huillery, H. Kazianga, E. Koussoubé, L. Rouanet, & M. Sage)

Funded by the World Bank, 2017-2022

Project description

A small number of studies have focused on measuring the impact of women's empowerment clubs, which are becoming more common in sub-Saharan Africa and provide life skills training and sometimes support for income-generating activities (IGAs) to young women beneficiaries.Studies that have sought to measure the impact of this intervention have so far obtained mixed results. While some studies have found very positive results on participation in IGAs and age at marriage (Amin et al., 2018; Bandiera et al., 2020), others have found more mixed results (Field et al., 2018; Austrian et al., 2018; Adoho et al., 2014; Buehren et al., 2017a; Buehren et al., 2017b). Ultimately, there remains no consensus on the impact of these programs, particularly concerning the impact of the basic version without IGA training. 

We contribute to this literature by measuring the impact of this intervention (with and without IGA support) in five West African countries (Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Mali, Mauritania, and Niger). A randomized controlled trial is being implemented in each country - mobilizing over 1,000 villages in total.

Follow-up data under analysis.