Country: Tanzania
Sector: Livelihoods, Youth Empowerment
Background:
Our partner wanted to measure the effectiveness of a vocational training program focused on agribusiness for unemployed youth in two agricultural regions.
The objective was to track how the training affected employment, income generation, and entrepreneurial behavior.
Approach:
We used a longitudinal panel design, enrolling 500 youth participants and tracking their progress over two agricultural cycles. Data tools included structured surveys, income diaries, and key informant interviews with local business mentors and cooperative leaders. The study was conducted in both highland and lowland agrarian zones for comparative insights.
Findings:
At baseline, only 18% of participants reported any form of income-generating activity. Post-training, this number rose to 41%, with 33% crediting the program directly for enabling them to start agribusiness ventures. Access to microcredit and confidence in applying farming innovations also improved significantly.
Impact:
The study provided the evidence needed to scale the training program to three more districts. It also helped redesign curriculum components to better align with local crop cycles and market needs, making vocational skills more relevant for rural youth.
