Evaluation : youth potential activity : youth cohort study

The study measures Activity outcomes and changes over 12 months for a subset of Youth Potential beneficiaries from four Ethiopian regions. The study uses a panel design and qualitative and quantitative approaches to measure changes in income, employment status, work readiness skills, knowledge of and access to employment/entrepreneurial resources, and functional literacy and numeracy skills. Data were collected at three points of the study - baseline, midline and endline - through surveys, focus group discussions, key informant interviews, and informational meetings. The study findings show that 12 months after participation in the Activity, a significantly larger number of participants were employed (69 percent) and had a higher income (71 percent) than at baseline. Of those employed, 88 percent were self-employed, with agriculture and trading as the primary occupations. Participants reported that they had greater self-confidence and a better work ethic and felt more empowered in searching for employment, creating self-employment, and obtaining complete information.