Abstract
In partnership with a private vocational institute in Dakar, Senegal, we will conduct a randomised controlled trial (RCT) to evaluate the impact of expanding vocational training (VT) opportunities for women in traditionally male-dominated sectors such as mechanics and electricity. The institute currently serves predominantly male students, but there is strong interest in increasing the enrolment of female students.
Focus group discussions and descriptive data suggest there is pent-up demand among women for such training. However, both financial and non-financial barriers may limit participation. The ability to pay is heterogeneous, and additional non-financial constraints include concerns about employment prospects, balancing work with family responsibilities, and fears that entering male-dominated sectors could reduce marriage prospects.
To address these barriers, the intervention includes two components: (i) scholarships for women to enrol in VT programmes, and (ii) information on the experiences of previous female students, particularly in relation to non-financial concerns. We will employ the Becker-DeGroot-Marschak (BDM) method to measure willingness to pay (WTP) and will examine how different subsidy levels influence participation and completion rates, as well as how different information affects enrolment.
The training programme lasts three months, includes official government certification, and provides job placement support. The RCT will involve approximately 800 women (400 in the treatment group and 400 in the control group) and will be evaluated over 18 months.
This study aims to assess how vocational training for women in male-dominated fields influences socio-economic outcomes such as household gender dynamics, family planning, labour market participation, and perceptions of women’s work. The findings will contribute to evidence on effective strategies for shifting gender norms, promoting women’s economic empowerment, and designing scalable, gender-inclusive labour market policies. Results will be shared with local stakeholders, project partners, and policymakers.