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The Effect of Soft Skills Training and Cash Grants on Enterprise and Employment Growth in Tanzania

Last registered on March 12, 2019
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Pre-Trial

Trial Information

General Information

Title
The Effect of Soft Skills Training and Cash Grants on Enterprise and Employment Growth in Tanzania
RCT ID
AEARCTR-0003986
Initial registration date
March 07, 2019

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
March 12, 2019, 1:19 PM EDT

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

Locations

Country
Tanzania, United Republic of
Region

Primary Investigator

Name
Annekathrin Schoofs
Affiliation
RWI - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research
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Other Primary Investigator(s)

PI Name
Rachel Steinacher
PI Affiliation
Innovations for Poverty Action
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PI Name
Nathan Fiala
PI Affiliation
University of Connecticut, RWI - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research
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PI Name
Margherita Calderone
PI Affiliation
Overseas Development Institute
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Additional Trial Information

Status
On going
Start date
2017-04-01
End date
2019-08-01
Keywords
Education, Finance & Microfinance, Labor
Additional Keywords
Business training, Soft skills, Youth unemployment, Microenterprises, Tanzania
JEL code(s)
J24, J68, L26, M53, O12, C93
Secondary IDs
Abstract
Due to low formal employment options, youth unemployment is a significant concern in developing countries. Governments and international
organizations are encouraging self-employment through micro- and small enterprise development as a solution. Because many young people do not have the skills or interest to start businesses, there is a common belief that high quality skills training programs are needed. TechnoServe's Strengthening Rural Youth Development through Enterprise program trains youth on basic life and career skills and later links them with employers or supports them in developing microenterprises. Using a randomized controlled trial, we estimate the impact of this unique and intensive soft skills training program, as well as the additional impact of receiving a cash grant. This study will provide evidence of the impact on labor force participation, employment and economic status, as well as looking at the mechanisms of a soft skills approach to training, including entrepreneurial and career skills, aspirations and psycho-social adjustment.
External Link(s)

Registration Citation

Citation
Calderone, Margherita et al. 2019. "The Effect of Soft Skills Training and Cash Grants on Enterprise and Employment Growth in Tanzania." AEA RCT Registry. March 12. https://doi.org/10.1257/rct.3986-1.0
Former Citation
Calderone, Margherita et al. 2019. "The Effect of Soft Skills Training and Cash Grants on Enterprise and Employment Growth in Tanzania." AEA RCT Registry. March 12. https://www.socialscienceregistry.org/trials/3986/history/43247
Sponsors & Partners
Experimental Details

Interventions

Intervention(s)
Intervention Start Date
2017-07-01
Intervention End Date
2018-03-31

Primary Outcomes

Primary Outcomes (end points)
This study will provide evidence of the impact on labor force participation, employment and economic status, as well as looking at the mechanisms of a soft skills approach to training, including entrepreneurial and career skills, aspirations and psycho-social adjustment.
Primary Outcomes (explanation)

Secondary Outcomes

Secondary Outcomes (end points)
Secondary Outcomes (explanation)

Experimental Design

Experimental Design
Using a randomized controlled trial (RCT), we study the impact of an innovative intervention that aims at fostering the enthusiasm of youth for skilled self-employment and helping them develop and fund concrete business plans.
Experimental Design Details
Randomization Method
Computer-generated randomization
Randomization Unit
Clustered at the ward/ village level
Was the treatment clustered?
Yes

Experiment Characteristics

Sample size: planned number of clusters
135 wards/ villages
Sample size: planned number of observations
Approximately 3,800 respondents
Sample size (or number of clusters) by treatment arms
72 villages were randomly assigned to treatment.
Minimum detectable effect size for main outcomes (accounting for sample design and clustering)
Supporting Documents and Materials
IRB

Institutional Review Boards (IRBs)

IRB Name
Innovations for Poverty Action
IRB Approval Date
2018-04-10
IRB Approval Number
7524
Analysis Plan

Analysis Plan Documents

STRYDE 2.0 Pre-Analysis Plan

MD5: 64dc0b85b9a5e2e8ba600a3e67a67497

SHA1: ba23084b0933ddb65725480f253d55fdb5f3fb0a

Uploaded At: March 12, 2019

Post-Trial

Post Trial Information

Study Withdrawal

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Intervention

Is the intervention completed?
No
Data Collection Complete
Data Publication

Data Publication

Is public data available?
No

Program Files

Program Files
Reports, Papers & Other Materials

Relevant Paper(s)

Reports & Other Materials