Feasibility study for a RCT on women/youth employability and vocational training in Senegal

The ultimate goal of this project is to develop targeted programs that address specific obstacles faced by women and youth in Senegal, such as household responsibilities and mental health issues, which hinder their participation in vocational training and their ability to find jobs. In the implementation phase, we will use randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to assess the effectiveness of different interventions in the short-to-medium term, such as participation in vocational training, and their longer-term impact on employment rates, earnings, and job quality in the treated groups. Our investigation will focus on two interventions: (i) a combination of vocational skills training and childcare services to assist women in participating in VT programs and finding employment, and (ii) providing a comprehensive vocational training program that incorporates cognitive-behavioral-therapy interventions to help young people in general. We will partner with J-PAL, research institutions in Senegal, and local providers of vocational training programs. Our goal is to enhance employment outcomes for women and youth and stimulate economic growth in the context of the demographic dividend. The SEEDLING phase comprises two visits to Senegal and aims to establish our consortium and structure our experimental design.