Quentin Stoeffler (BSE, Université de Bordeaux)

Quentin Stoeffler
Bordeaux School of Economics

Coauthors : Robin Audy, Florian Leray, and Lea Merignan.

Abstract

Multifaceted interventions implemented by non-governmental organizations globally have become increasingly popular as anti-poverty programs. However, questions have been raised regarding the scalability of this approach given the financial and logistical costs associated with these programs. This research measures the impact of the PEJIP, a low-cost, scalable multifaceted intervention implemented by the government of Niger. This intervention targets very young men and women (aged 15-25), unlike traditional multifaceted interventions that provide benefits to older women. Implemented in 2022-23 in rural Niger, the program provided a package of benefits that included a cash transfer, psycho-social and business training, and saving encouragements. We crossed-randomized various versions of the program (cash grant vs regular transfers; and simplified version vs full package) and measure their impacts compared to a control group at endline and two years after project termination. Our results indicate strong impacts on business and wellbeing outcomes immediately after project implementation. Preliminary results also suggest that these impacts are attenuated in magnitude, but remain two years later. We show heterogeneous effects among young men and women in various outcomes such as business creation and profits, livestock owning, and migration. However, heterogeneity across different treatment arms is limited. Overall, these results suggest that a low-cost multifaceted approach in one of the poorest and most risk-prone settings of the world can generate lasting benefits among very young male and female beneficiaries.