The office has around 30 staff members who work to influence policy through two Embedded Evidence Labs in the sectors of employment and education and to produce high-quality evidence in coordination with international and local researchers. Our research spans the sectors of agriculture, gender, youth employment, and entrepreneurship and private sector development. In Sub-Saharan Africa, wage job opportunities are limited, and a vast majority of young people are engaged in low-productive work.
Many governments support formal apprenticeship programs to help youth find suitable employment, but there is limited evidence on the direct and indirect effects of these public interventions.
The apprenticeship program increased participation among youth in formal apprenticeships, and participating firms hired more formal apprentices after the program was implemented. The increase in the number of apprentices entering firms was also associated with an increase in the quality of work provided by apprentices, suggesting that apprenticeship programs can have broader benefits for firms in the economy.
Researchers are measuring impacts on student learning outcomes, parental engagement, and teacher professional outcomes. In many low-income countries, people face pressure from family and friends to share their earnings. While this dynamic can insure individuals in the face of limited formal institutions, it may also restrict economic transformation and labor productivity. Preliminary results suggest workers offered the account increased their labor productivity and earnings by 10 percent, while workers who actually opened the accounts experienced an 18 percent increase in earnings.
The impact appears to be driven by workers increasing effort while on the job. Further results are forthcoming. IPA is working with the Directorate General of Employment to support the development of effective public policies and job creation programs. This collaboration has led to the creation of the Employment Embedded Evidence Lab.
