Empowering Adolescent Girls: RCT Evidence from Uganda

Featuring
Markus Goldstein
Lead Economist
Senior Economist, Africa Region
World Bank

Nearly 60% of Uganda’s population is under 20 years old. This generation faces health and economic challenges associated with HIV, early pregnancy and unemployment. In this MADS, Markus Goldstein presents the results of a combined program of (i) vocational training and (ii) information on health and risky behaviors for adolescent girls in Uganda that achieved a 32% increase in girls’ employment and a 26% decrease in child bearing after two years. These startling findings suggest combined interventions might be more effective among adolescent girls than single-pronged interventions aiming to improve labor market outcomes solely through vocational training, or to change risky behaviors solely through education programs.

**The Massachusetts Ave. Development Seminar (MADS) is a ten year-old research seminar series that brings some of the worlds leading development scholars to discuss their new research and ideas. The presentations meet an academic standard of quality and are at times technical, but retain a focus on a mixed audience of researchers and policymakers.*