The impacts of dual apprenticeships in Cote d'Ivoire

The Cote d'Ivoire Emergency Youth Employment and Skills Development Program (PEJEDEC) was launched in 2011, shortly after the crisis that followed the 2010 presidential elections, in order to assist the Ivoirian government in overcoming the challenge of youth under-employment. It builds upon a range of programs and support pilot activities on youth employment and skills development. Its goal is to improve access to better employment and skills development opportunities for youth aged 18 to 30 years old, both men and women, unemployed or under-employed.

The PEJEDEC dual apprenticeship program targets low-skilled urban youth aged between 18 and 24. Implemented by the National Agency for Vocational Training (AGEFOP), it aimed to place 5000 youth for one to two-year apprenticeships in participating firms. The program offers on-the-job training and vocational education (180 hours per year) to youths. It lasts 12 or 24 months depending on the sector. The dual apprenticeship program differs from traditional apprenticeships that only involve practical on-the-job training and can last several years. In the dual apprenticeship program, apprentices receive a monthly allowance of 30,000 CFA (approximately USD 60) and advice from counselors. They are also expected to get a certification upon passing a test at the end of their apprenticeship.

2014-10-01

2016-10-31

Primary outcomes to measure impacts on youth:
(i) Human Capital Investments (at school, participation in apprenticeship (formal/informal), completion/certification out of apprenticeship, participation in technical training)
(ii) Employment (inactivity, unemployment, employment, self-employment, wage employment, employment as apprentice, number of activities, hours worked, hours worked in self-employment, hours worked in wage employment, hours worked as an apprentice)
(iii) Earnings (total earnings, earnings in wage employment, earnings in self-employment, earnings in apprenticeship)
(iv) Savings

Secondary outcomes to measure impacts on youth:
(i) Employment history (for medium-term analysis) (time employed, time in wage employment, time in self-employment, time as apprentice)
(ii) Technical skills (feasibility of measurement under consideration)
(iii) Self-esteem (feasibility of measurement under consideration)

A randomized controlled trial was put in place to evaluate the effectiveness of the impact of the PEJEDEC dual apprenticeship program on both youth and firms. The impact evaluation was conducted during the second wave of the program, for which approximately 2000 apprenticeship positions were to be filled (out a total of 5000 positions in the program).

The second wave of the program operated in 7 urban localities in the interior of the country (Man, Daoukro, Gagnoa, Divo, Bouake, Adzope, and Mankono), as well as in Abidjan. It was planned that Abidjan would also participate in the experiment, but demand for apprenticeship positions among youth was limited and there was not enough oversubscription, so that Abidjan had to be dropped from the sample.

The randomization involved two steps (respectively for firms, and youth), which were undertaken jointly. Homogenous groups of apprenticeship positions stratified by professions and locations were created. Groups of youths stratified by professional interest and locations were also created. The randomization was then undertaken within these profession and location strata.

The study has two parts. The objective of the first part of the study is to document short-term impacts of apprenticeships on youths and firms, including to analyze whether the dual apprenticeship program induces substitution effects on youths and firms. The design for the first part of the study is attached to this registration. The objective of the second part of the study is to measure impacts of apprenticeship on youths in the medium-term, after their exit from the program. This registration provides additional details for the second part of the study.

Randomization was performed in the office by a computer.

The randomization involved two steps (respectively for firms, and youth), which were undertaken jointly. Homogenous groups of apprenticeship positions stratified by professions and locations were created. Groups of youths stratified by professional interest and locations were also created. The randomization was then undertaken within these profession and location strata.

No

In total, out of 734 interested firms, 366 were assigned to treatment and 368 to control. Out of 1842 interested youths, 914 were assigned to treatment and 928 were assigned to control.

Sample size for analysis of medium-term impacts on youths: 1842 youths

Sample size for analysis of medium-term impacts on youths: 914 youths assigned to treatment, 928 youths assigned to control.

At 95% confidence with statistical power of 80%, the minimum detectable effect (MDE) on youths are respectively of 9,033 FCFA ($16) for earnings, and 4.3 hours for hours worked. These MDE represents 12.8% and 14% of the standard error of the outcome variable in the control group.