Assessing the Impact of Community Center Interventions on Social Cohesion in Conflict-Affected Areas of Tripoli

Last registered on April 26, 2024
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Pre-Trial

Trial Information

General Information

Title
Assessing the Impact of Community Center Interventions on Social Cohesion in Conflict-Affected Areas of Tripoli
RCT ID
AEARCTR-0013423
Initial registration date
April 21, 2024

Initial registration date is when the trial was registered.

It corresponds to when the registration was submitted to the Registry to be reviewed for publication.

First published
April 26, 2024, 11:51 AM EDT

First published corresponds to when the trial was first made public on the Registry after being reviewed.

Locations

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Primary Investigator

Name
Ahmad Addam
Affiliation
Threads of Peace
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Other Primary Investigator(s)

PI Name
Maia Sieverding
PI Affiliation
American University of Beirut
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Additional Trial Information

Status
In development
Start date
2024-05-30
End date
2024-12-15
Keywords
Crime, Violence, & Conflict, Gender, Other
Additional Keywords
Peacebuilding, Well-Being, Self-Efficacy, Trust, Civic Engagement, Women in Peace
JEL code(s)
Secondary IDs
Prior work
This trial does not extend or rely on any prior RCTs.
Abstract
This study focuses on the critical role of community centers in nurturing social cohesion, particularly in conflict-affected regions. The research is situated in Jabal Mohsen and Bab al-Tabbaneh, neighborhoods in Tripoli, Lebanon, known for their distinct demographics and complex historical narratives. Against the backdrop of Lebanon's socio-political dynamics, exacerbated by the presence of displaced populations, this study aims to evaluate the impact of a community center managed by women in enhancing social cohesion among its users. Employing a mixed-methods approach, the research combines an impact evaluation with in-depth interviews, and focus group discussions with women volunteers, community members, and key stakeholders. The study objectives are twofold: first, to assess the extent of the community center's impact on social cohesion, and second, to identify the mechanisms and strategies behind the impact finding. The study's significance lies in its potential to inform policies and initiatives aimed at mitigating tensions and enhancing social stability in conflict-affected areas, particularly through the pivotal role played by women in community centers. By examining the effectiveness of this innovative approach, the research seeks to pave the way for more contextually grounded interventions that truly foster sustainable social cohesion.
External Link(s)

Registration Citation

Citation
Addam, Ahmad and Maia Sieverding . 2024. "Assessing the Impact of Community Center Interventions on Social Cohesion in Conflict-Affected Areas of Tripoli." AEA RCT Registry. April 26. https://doi.org/10.1257/rct.13423-1.0
Sponsors & Partners

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Experimental Details

Interventions

Intervention(s)

The Program Activities Communication outlines a structured, two-month community engagement initiative where participants, divided into three groups and led by peace ambassadors, engage in weekly activities at a community center. These activities include cooking, embroidery, wellness care, sports, and social events, complemented by dialogue sessions to foster open communication, with a dedicated WhatsApp group providing ongoing support and fostering a sense of community among the participants.
Intervention Start Date
2024-06-15
Intervention End Date
2024-08-15

Primary Outcomes

Primary Outcomes (end points)
Our primary outcome for the evaluation is generalized trust, a proxy for social cohesion that directly captures aspects of inter-nationality and inter-religious trust.
Primary Outcomes (explanation)

Secondary Outcomes

Secondary Outcomes (end points)
Other outcomes to be assessed includes civic engagement scale , self-efficacy scale, WHO-5 well-being scale, and motivation to join the center.
Secondary Outcomes (explanation)

Experimental Design

Experimental Design
The impact evaluation for the community center activities will utilize a randomized control trial (RCT) to measure effects on social cohesion among adult women in selected communities. The study will involve recruiting participants through an outreach campaign, where trained volunteers distribute digital flyers to encourage registration for training workshops. Potential participants can register via a QR code or direct contact, and eligibility will be determined based on specific criteria including nationality, age, and prior non-participation in center activities. Eligible women will be randomly assigned into either the intervention group, which participates immediately, or the control group, which will participate after the study. Data collection will occur through self-administered surveys both before and after the intervention, focusing on generalized trust among other outcomes.
Experimental Design Details
Not available
Randomization Method
This method involves using computer software to generate random assignments. This ensures that the allocation of participants into either the treatment group or the control group is completely random and free from any potential bias. Here's a brief outline of how this method would be implemented in the trial:

Data Entry: All eligible participants' details, collected through the registration and screening process, are entered into a secure database. Each participant is assigned a unique ID to maintain confidentiality.
Software Use: Randomization software or a simple computer program (such as using the RAND function in a spreadsheet) is used. This software is designed to randomly assign each unique ID to one of two groups: treatment or control.
Blind Randomization: To ensure the process is unbiased, the person conducting the randomization may not be directly involved with the recruitment or data collection processes. This adds an additional layer of integrity to the study.
Documentation: The results of the randomization (i.e., group assignments) are documented in a secure manner, maintaining the linkage between participant IDs and their assigned groups while ensuring that personal identifiers are protected.
Communication: Once the randomization process is completed, participants are informed of their group assignment and the corresponding start times of their participation either in the immediate activities or after the evaluation period.
Randomization Unit
Individual
Was the treatment clustered?
No

Experiment Characteristics

Sample size: planned number of clusters
340 in total: 170 individuals in treatment and 170 in control group
Sample size: planned number of observations
340 in total: 170 individuals in treatment and 170 in control group
Sample size (or number of clusters) by treatment arms
340 in total: 170 individuals in treatment and 170 in control group
Minimum detectable effect size for main outcomes (accounting for sample design and clustering)
Based on previous monitoring data collected by Threadsof Peace showed that participants in their trainings scored an average of 7.76 (out of 12) on the generalized trust scale. Based on this data, we estimate that a sample size of 340 women is needed to be able to detect a 5% increase in generalized trust from baseline to endline, with an alpha of 0.05 and power of 0.9, accounting for 20% attrition. To enroll 340 women in the study, we estimate that we will need to recruit 400 women for the trainings, as not all women may decide to participate in the study.
Supporting Documents and Materials
IRB

Institutional Review Boards (IRBs)

IRB Name
American University of Beirut
IRB Approval Date
2024-04-03
IRB Approval Number
SBS-2023-0360
Analysis Plan