The document summarizes two projects evaluating interventions in Eastern Congo: 1) The CEFADES vocational training program, which was found to increase both employment and incomes for youth participants. Limitations included a lack of panel data and non-randomized treatment. 2) A nutritional intervention, which found very high rates of child malnutrition in the area. The treatment positively impacted nutritional outcomes for children under 3, though the control study had limitations. Overall, the studies provide evidence that skills training and nutrition programs can help address unemployment and health issues in the region.

1. Impact of Interventions on Child
Malnutrition and Youth Unemployment in
Eastern Congo
Skyler Barlow . David Hobson . Brandon Pichanick . Diego Pinzon
Cait Stadler . Julie Swensen . Gabriel Vander Hey
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Kishore Gawande

2. Roadmap
• Background
• Partners and Pre-Survey
• Project 1: CEFADES
• Project 2: Nutrition
• Conclusion
• Questions

3. The Democratic Republic of the Congo

4. Conflict in North Kivu
• Crossroads for armed groups
• Butembo population
• Stability of Butembo

5. Client & Partner Background
• Client: The Conflict & Development Lab
• Partner: The Universite Catholique du Graben
– Students will be co-authors
– CEFADES & Giorgio Cerruto Therapeutic Nutrition Center

6. Pre-Survey
• Gavin Finnegan
• Purpose
– Train enumerators
– Identify potential
weaknesses of the
surveys

7. Project I: CEFADES
Youth Employment

8. What is CEFADES?
• Youth Vocational Program
• Focused on the Disenfranchised
• 594 since 2009
– 30% female
• Skill Training
– mechanics, carpentry, masonry,
dressmaking, hairdressing, culinary arts,
etc...

9. CEFADES Research Questions
•Does employment increase?
•Does income increase?

10. CEFADES Survey

11. CEFADES Methodology
• Comparison of Control and Treatment
• OLS regression on income
• Comparison of Control and Treatment
• Probit regression on working status
• Child soldier regressions

12. Employment Impact
The Proportion of Populations Working vs Unemployed

13. Employment Impact
Dependent Variable: Working Status

14. Income Impact
Average Monthly Income in Dollars

15. Income Impact
Dependent Variable: Log of Monthly Income

16. Dependent Variable: Log of Monthly Income

17. Bottom Line
• Research Questions
– Does employment increase?
Yes
– Does income increase?
Yes
• Limitations
– Post-Treatment Survey
Ideal: Panel Data
– Non-Randomized Treatment

18. Project II: Nutrition

19. Setting the Stage
Source: Eastern Congo Initiative

20. Nutrition Research Questions
• What is the prevalence of child malnutrition in the Bunyuka
Parish?
• In comparison to the control, does the treatment positively
affect the nutritional status of children?

21. Nutrition Methodology
• Control Study
– WHO Standardized Measurements
• Average Treatment on the Treated (ATT)
– Independent Variable: Nutritional Therapy
– Dependent Variables: Height-for-Age (HFA), Weight-for-Age (WFA)

22. Nutrition Control Survey

23. Nutrition Treatment Survey

24. Nutrition Sample
Untreated Group
• 714 households surveyed
• 1,750 children measured
Treatment Group
• 215 households surveyed
• 351 children measured

25. io
Prevalence of Malnutrition
Control Sample
Comparison of Below Average WHO Outcomes w/ Above Average Bunyuka Outcomes

26. Selection on Observables
• Self-Reported Nutritional Status
• Education Levels
• Distance to Health Center
• Nutritional Preferences
• Age
• Ethnicity/Language
• Cost of Treatment

27. Quartile Treatment Effect

28. Average Treatment Effect

29. Bottom Line
• Research Questions
What is the prevalence of child malnutrition in Bunyuka Parish?
Very prevalent
In comparison to the control, does the treatment positively affect
the nutritional status of children?
Yes, but it is best for children under 3 years
• Limitations
–Not a perfect control
–Post-treatment survey only

30. CONCLUSION

31. Conclusion
CEFADES
•Positively impacts youth
•Confirms training effectiveness
•Contradicts child soldier literature
•Unique program for this part of the world

32. Conclusion
Nutrition
• Context
• Survey Mechanics
• Findings
–Rural health outcomes
–Observable costs to treatment
–Ideal age range for treatment

33. Conclusion
Client
•Program evaluation capabilities
Field of Conflict & Development
•Research capabilities

34. Questions
Skyler Barlow | David Hobson
Brandon Pichanick | Diego Pinzon
Cait Stadler | Julie Swensen | Gabriel Vander Hey

35. CEFADES Selection Process
1 - Program Psychologist
2 - NGO’s and Government
3 - Parents
4 - Advertisement in Churches

36. Survey
Key Factors Measured
1 - Demographics
2 - Income
3 - Health
4 - Spillover Effects

37. Survey: By Gender Comparison

38. CEFADES - PSM results