The Impact of Secondary School Scholarships on Girls' Skill Development and Female Empowerment in Niger

  • R Research Project/Report/Study

? Activity Status: Unknown

Key Information

In partnership with the Government of Niger, the National Institute of Statistics, and the World Bank, researchers are evaluating the impact of scholarships on girls’ educational attainment, female empowerment, and economic opportunities. The scholarship seeks to improve girls’ hard skills, including vocational training, to put them on a more equal track with men. The Toutes les Filles à l’École program (TFE) provides scholarships to girls without a secondary school in their village. As secondary school is free, the scholarship covers housing and food costs during all three years of school. To be eligible girls must meet a minimum grade average and come from a vulnerable family. The scholarship provides FCFA 180,000 (US$335) over nine monthly transfers during the school year for living expenses. Host families for female students receive 15,000 FCFA (US$28) each month for hosting. Girls’ families receive the additional 5.000 FCFA (US$9) per month. Of 352 eligible villages (villages without a secondary school) identified by the Government of Niger, researchers randomly selected 285 to participate. Researchers then randomly assigned each village to offer varying shares of scholarships to eligible girls. All scholarships provided: In 95 villages, every girl eligible for a scholarship received support. Mixed group: In 95 villages, a randomly selected half of all eligible girls received a scholarship while the other half did not receive one. Comparison group: In 95 villages, no girls received scholarships. After one and two years, researchers will survey girls on several indicators of skill development, female empowerment, and labor market outcomes, including future aspirations, educational achievements, sexual health, and gender-related opinions including equality and female autonomy.


Lead Implementing Organization(s)

Location(s)

Sub-Saharan Africa

Niger

Government Affiliation

Government-affiliated program

Years

2018 -

Partner(s)

Government of Niger, National Institute of Statistics, Toutes les Filles à l'École program

Ministry Affiliation

Government of Niger National Ministry of Education

Funder(s)

Not applicable or unknown

COVID-19 Response

Unknown

Geographic Scope

National

Areas of Work Back to Top

Education areas

Other

  • Transition from school to work

Other skills

  • Life skills/sexuality education
  • Rights/empowerment education
  • Social and emotional learning

Cross-cutting areas

  • Economic/livelihoods (including savings/financial inclusion, etc.)
  • Empowerment
  • Gender equality
  • Other aspects of sexual and reproductive health

Program participants

Target Audience(s)

Girls (both in school and out of school), Youth

Age

Not applicable or unknown

School Enrolment Status

Some in school

School Level

  • Lower secondary
  • Upper secondary

Other populations reached

  • Brothers
  • Fathers
  • Mothers
  • Sisters

Participants include

  • Other

Program Approaches Back to Top

Learning while working

  • Vocational training

Reducing economic barriers

  • Scholarships/stipends for school fees

Program Goals Back to Top

Education goals

  • Increased secondary school completion
  • Increased secondary school enrolment

Cross-cutting goals

  • Increased agency and empowerment
  • Increased employment/job-related skills
  • More equitable gender attitudes and norms