Abstract
There is evidence that “safe-spaces” interventions help empower adolescent girls in sub-Saharan Africa. These spaces allow girls to socialize and build networks, acquire social support and livelihood skills, and receive information on community resources. Most programs almost exclusively focus on targeting girls (alone) and there is little evidence of the impact of also engaging girls’ key decision makers during adolescence - such as parents, partners, or relatives. Further, there is relatively limited causal evidence on the impact of such “safe-spaces” programs among younger girls who are outside the formal schooling system.
This study addresses both evidence gaps. Using a cluster-randomized controlled trial, we will estimate the impact of a “safe-spaces” plus program in Mozambique. The program targets out-of-school adolescent girls (aged 10-19 years old) and a trusted adult chosen by the girl. It includes a standard “safe-spaces” component delivered to the girls and a complementary “school-of-partners” component delivered to the trusted adults recommended by them. Specifically, we will test the impacts of the “safe-spaces” component alone, and the combined “safe-spaces” and “school-partners” components, on girls’ empowerment along three dimensions: (i) education and employment, (ii) marriage and fertility, and (iii) exposure to violence.