Organised by the International Labour Organization in partnership with Silatech, Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab and the Arab Urban Development Institute, the symposium, held on 6-8 March 2014 in Doha, brought together policy makers and practitioners with academics and researchers to present and discuss the evidence base for 'what works' in increasing the employment and productivity of youth. Discussants shared recent findings of impact evaluations from the Middle East and North Africa region and other developing regions. Participants were also introduced to evidence from systematic and
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Organised by the International Labour Organization in partnership with Silatech, Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab and the Arab Urban Development Institute, the symposium, held on 6-8 March 2014 in Doha, brought together policy makers and practitioners with academics and researchers to present and discuss the evidence base for 'what works' in increasing the employment and productivity of youth. Discussants shared recent findings of impact evaluations from the Middle East and North Africa region and other developing regions. Participants were also introduced to evidence from systematic and literature reviews which are important for evidence based policy creation. This paper was one of the background documents to the symposium.
Nearly 60 per cent of Uganda's population is aged below 20. This generation faces health challenges associated with HIV, coupled with economic challenges arising from an uncertain transition into the labor market. [The authors] evaluate the impacts of a program designed to empower adolescent girls against both challenges through the simultaneous provision of: (1) life skills to build knowledge and reduce risky behaviors; and (2) vocational training enabling girls to establish small-scale enterprises. The randomized control trial tracks 4,800 girls over two years. [The authors found that] the program significantly improves HIV and pregnancy related knowledge, as well as corresponding risky behaviors. On outcomes related to vocational training, the intervention raised the likelihood of girls being engaged in income generating activities by 35 per cent, mainly driven by increased participation in self-employment. The findings suggest combined interventions might be more effective among adolescent girls than single-pronged interventions aiming to change risky behaviors solely through related education programs, or to improve labour market outcomes solely through vocational training.
Edited published abstract with additional information.
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