The impact of agri-business skills training in Zimbabwe: an evaluation of the Training for Rural Economic Empowerment (TREE) programme. Issue 3 (3rd July 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lachaud, Michée A.; Bravo-Ureta, Boris E.; Fiala, Nathan; Gonzalez, Susana P.
• Is Part Of: Journal of development effectiveness. Volume 10:Issue 3(2018)
• Page Start: 373
• Page End: 391
• Publication Date: 2018-07-03
• Subjects: Impact evaluation -- internal rate of return -- social welfare; Economic development -- Periodicals; Developing countries -- Economic conditions -- Periodicals; Economic development; Economic history; Developing countries; Periodicals; 338.91724
• DOI: 10.1080/19439342.2018.1464494
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1943-9342

Abstract

ABSTRACT: This study presents an evaluation of the International Labour Organization (ILO) Training for Rural Economic Empowerment (TREE) programme as implemented in Zimbabwe. The programme's goal was to improve the labour market outcomes of young people in rural areas. We apply Propensity Score Matching and Difference-in-Differences methods on a two-period retrospective panel data survey (2011 and 2014) to control for biases stemming from observed and unobserved time-invariant characteristics between TREE beneficiaries and a constructed control group. We find that TREE increased beneficiaries' income by US $787, as well as child and health expenditures by US $236 and US $101, respectively, compared to non-beneficiaries over the 2011–2014 programme implementation period.