AEA RCT Registry

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Field	Before	After
Last Published	February 21, 2026 06:19 AM	April 29, 2026 11:18 AM
Intervention (Public)	The primary treatment is the introduction of the mobile phone-based Hausa literacy platform. Within treatment villages, the platform will be introduced, and targeted participants will be trained in how to use the system. In addition, after conducting a census of potential literate facilitators in each village, one facilitator will be identified and trained. The facilitators will answer questions about the platform and resolve issues for learners. We will also provide a small subsidy (of $US1, in the form of airtime credit) in treatment and control villages. Within the treatment villages, they will be stratified by sub-geographic region and randomly assigned to either an additional treatment (bi-weekly phone calls to the village chief, facilitator and 2 students) or the control. The calls will take place over a four-month period. Prior to the program, we will collect data on baseline literacy rates, willingness to pay for the platform, income and children’s schooling. Administrative data on usage will be monitored. We will conduct literacy tests six months after the introduction of the platform and a household survey one year later. The approach is designed to assess participants’ demand for the system; the key barriers to usage, including liquidity and technology; the optimal periods for learning; and the impact on adults’ learning, as well as other welfare measures.	The primary treatment is the introduction of the mobile phone-based Hausa literacy platform. Within treatment villages, the platform will be introduced, and targeted participants will be trained in how to use the system. In addition, after conducting a census of potential literate facilitators in each village, one facilitator will be identified and trained. The facilitators will answer questions about the platform and resolve issues for learners. We will also provide a small subsidy (of $US1 each month, in the form of airtime credit) in treatment villages to cover airtime costs. As a separate intervention, we will also assign individuals to motivational messages about learning, and the link between their learning and children's schooling. This is independent of the platform. Prior to the program, we will collect data on baseline literacy rates, willingness to pay for the platform, income and children’s schooling. Administrative data on usage will be monitored. We will conduct literacy tests six months after the introduction of the platform and a household survey one year later. The approach is designed to assess participants’ demand for the system; the key barriers to usage, including liquidity and technology; the optimal periods for learning; and the impact on adults’ learning, as well as other welfare measures.
Primary Outcomes (End Points)	Adopt and usage of the platform, per day/month Amount of spending on the platform Reading levels (based upon an in-person reading test) Mobile phone knowledge and usage Attitudes towards education Children's enrollment and attendance in school Self-esteem and self-efficacy Household production, income-generating activities and ability to respond to shocks WTP for the technology	Adoption and usage of the platform, per day/month Attendance at weekly meetings Reading levels (based upon an in-person reading test) Mobile phone knowledge and usage Attitudes towards education Children's enrollment and attendance in school Self-esteem and self-efficacy Household production, income-generating activities and ability to respond to shocks WTP for the technology
Experimental Design (Public)	We will use a village-level cluster RCT, stratifying by sub-region and randomly assigning 105 villages to treatment or control. After stratifying by treatment status, villages will be randomly assigned to treatment (76 villages) or control (29 villages). Within all villages, we will first identify eligible participants, defined as those who are illiterate. Amongst eligible participants, we will stratify by gender and randomly select 8 men and 8 women per village, which conforms with Ministry norms. We will also have a spillover sample of 4 participants per village.	We will use a village-level cluster RCT, stratifying by sub-region and randomly assigning 105 villages to treatment or control. After stratifying by treatment status, villages will be randomly assigned to treatment (76 villages) or control (29 villages). Within all villages, we will first identify eligible participants, defined as those who are illiterate. Amongst eligible participants, we will stratify by gender and randomly select 8 men and 8 women per village, which conforms with Ministry norms. We will also have a spillover sample of 4 participants per village. For the motivational messages, we will stratify by village and gender and randomly assign the individual to a message or none.
Randomization Method	This is a stratified, cluster-level RCT with randomized done in the office and by a computer.	The primary RCT is a stratified, cluster-level RCT with randomized done in the office and by a computer.