Purpose:

  • The purpose of this study is to design and conduct a rigorous evaluation of the outcomes of DOL's Bureau of International Labor Affairs' EMPOWER grant. This grant aims to combat serious child labor issues in Zambia, particularly for vulnerable girls and their families. It will be implemented primarily in rural areas.

Research Goals:

The research goal for this evaluation is to gain an understanding of the labor market and educational outcomes among program beneficiaries, including understanding if and how the following outcomes are achieved:

  • Adolescent girl beneficiaries increase: participation in acceptable (non-hazardous, legal) work; contribution to their household's income; participation in secondary school or other educational services; and development of financial and functional literacy skills.
  • Adult female beneficiaries increase employment and income, including by establishing or expanding their own businesses.
  • Children of adult female beneficiaries decrease their participation in child labor and risk factors for entering child labor.

Key Components:

  • An evaluability assessment to determine the most rigorous and appropriate design and methodology for evaluating the results of the project.
  • An outcome or impact evaluation using the most rigorous methods feasible.

Project Duration: 4 years

Contract End Date: December 2021

Contractor: Mathematica Policy Research

For More Information: ChiefEvaluationOffice@dol.gov

 

The Department of Labor’s (DOL) Chief Evaluation Office (CEO) sponsors independent evaluations and research, primarily conducted by external, third-party contractors in accordance with the Department of Labor Evaluation Policy. CEO’s research development process includes extensive technical review at the design, data collection and analysis stage, including: external contractor review and OMB review and approval of data collection methods and instruments per the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA), Institutional Review Board (IRB) review to ensure studies adhere to the highest ethical standards, review by academic peers (e.g., Technical Working Groups), and inputs from relevant DOL agency and program officials and CEO technical staff. Final reports undergo an additional independent expert technical review and a review for Section 508 compliance prior to publication. The resulting reports represent findings from this independent research and do not represent DOL positions or policies.