Adolescence is a ‘critical period’ of development, and a window for interventions to improve well-being. However, it is also a time when girls face an array of restrictive gender norms, reinforced by their peers, families, communities and broader institutions. It stands to reason that without norms change at each of these levels, it may be difficult to improve girls’ outcomes in a sustainable way. This study analyses data from a cluster randomised controlled trial (RCT) to evaluate the short- and medium-term impacts of a set of layered adolescent-centric interventions designed to transform gender norms on the outcomes of approximately 2,300 girls. Study sites in two rural zones of Ethiopia were randomly allocated to a control group or one of four layered intervention groups. Analysis of mixed-methods follow-up data suggests that, in locations where there is strong community-level support and where interventions are implemented well, there are improvements in girls’ outcomes, and these improvements are both more wide-ranging and more sustainable (at least up to 2.5 years) when interactions with boys, parents and the community are included. Yet, impacts are weaker (and sometimes even negative) without such community support and where implementation is less consistent, which suggests the need for tailored and well-monitored implementation approaches in different contexts.
Suggested citation:
Hamory, J., Baird, S., Das, S., Jones, N., Woldehanna, T. and Yadete, W. (2023) ‘Do layered adolescent-centric interventions improve girls’ capabilities? Evidence from a mixed-methods cluster randomised controlled trial in Ethiopia.’ AEA RCT Registry (https://www.gage.odi.org/publication/near-term-impacts-of-interventions-aimed-at-adolescent-empowerment-and-gender-norm-change-in-ethiopia/)
