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Impact of an integrated youth skill training program on youth livelihoods: A case study of cocoa belt region in Ghana

Author

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  • Unnikrishnan, Vidhya
  • Pinet, Melanie
  • Marc, Lukasz
  • Boateng, Nathaniel Amoh
  • Boateng, Ethel Seiwaa
  • Pasanen, Tiina
  • Atta-Mensah, Maya
  • Bridonneau, Sophie

Abstract

This paper assesses the impact of an integrated skills training program given to youth aged 17–25-year-old living under the $2/day poverty line in the cocoa belt region of Ghana. Despite being a leading producer of cocoa and having a burgeoning youth population, it is estimated that the average age of a cocoa farmer in Ghana is greater than 50 years. To introduce young people to cocoa farming and address the potential barriers they face in order to do that; a multi-faceted skills training programme was designed with the ultimate aim of improving and diversifying youth livelihoods. The training had three key components: i) cocoa academies (which includes agricultural practices; life skills and financial literacy); ii) business incubators (including entrepreneurial training, networks, mentoring) and iii) supporting enabling environment (access to land and finance). Combining quasi-experimental methods Propensity Score Matching with Difference in Differences, we estimate the causal effect of the programme on agricultural outcomes (farming, agricultural practices), financial behaviour outcomes (saving practices, mobile banking) and livelihood outcomes (employment, income, poverty likelihood) one year after the completion of training.

Suggested Citation

  • Unnikrishnan, Vidhya & Pinet, Melanie & Marc, Lukasz & Boateng, Nathaniel Amoh & Boateng, Ethel Seiwaa & Pasanen, Tiina & Atta-Mensah, Maya & Bridonneau, Sophie, 2022. "Impact of an integrated youth skill training program on youth livelihoods: A case study of cocoa belt region in Ghana," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 151(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:wdevel:v:151:y:2022:i:c:s0305750x21003478
    DOI: 10.1016/j.worlddev.2021.105732
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