Can youth empowerment programs reduce violence against girls during the COVID-19 pandemic?

A-Tier
Journal: Journal of Development Economics
Year: 2021
Volume: 153
Issue: C

Authors (3)

Score contribution per author:

1.341 = (α=2.01 / 3 authors) × 2.0x A-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

This paper shows that a youth empowerment program in Bolivia reduced the reported prevalence of violence against girls during the COVID-19 lockdown. The program offered training in soft skills and technical skills, sexual education, mentoring and job-finding assistance. To measure the effects of the program, the study conducted a randomized control trial with 600 vulnerable adolescents. Results indicate that 7 months after its completion, the program increased girls’ earnings and decreased violence against girls. Violence was measured with both direct self-report questions and list experiments. These findings suggest that multi-faceted empowerment programs can reduce the level of violence experienced by young women during high-risk periods.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:eee:deveco:v:153:y:2021:i:c:s0304387821000894
Journal Field
Development
Author Count
3
Added to Database
2026-01-25