Impact of Interventions on Child Malnutrition and Youth Unemployment in

Eastern CongoSkyler Barlow . David Hobson . Brandon Pichanick . Diego Pinzon

Cait Stadler . Julie Swensen . Gabriel Vander Hey

Faculty Advisor: Dr. Kishore Gawande

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

The Democratic Republic of the Congo

Conflict in North Kivu• Crossroads for armed groups

• Butembo population

• Stability of Butembo

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

Pre-Survey• Gavin Finnegan

• Purpose– Train enumerators– Identify potential

weaknesses of the surveys

Project I: CEFADESYouth Employment

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...

CEFADES Research Questions

•Does employment increase?

•Does income increase?

CEFADES Survey

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

Employment ImpactThe Proportion of Populations Working vs Unemployed

Employment ImpactDependent Variable: Working Status

Income ImpactAverage Monthly Income in Dollars

Income ImpactDependent Variable: Log of Monthly Income

Dependent Variable: Log of Monthly Income

Bottom Line• Research Questions

– Does employment increase?Yes

– Does income increase?Yes

• Limitations– Post-Treatment Survey

Ideal: Panel Data– Non-Randomized Treatment

Project II: Nutrition

Setting the Stage

Source: Eastern Congo Initiative

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?

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)

Nutrition Control Survey

Nutrition Treatment Survey

Nutrition Sample

Untreated Group• 714 households surveyed• 1,750 children measured

Treatment Group• 215 households surveyed• 351 children measured

io

Prevalence of MalnutritionControl Sample

Comparison of Below Average WHO Outcomes w/ Above Average Bunyuka Outcomes

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

Quartile Treatment Effect

Average Treatment Effect

Bottom Line

• Research QuestionsWhat is the prevalence of child malnutrition in Bunyuka Parish?

Very prevalentIn 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

CONCLUSION

Conclusion

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

Conclusion

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

Conclusion

Client•Program evaluation capabilities

Field of Conflict & Development•Research capabilities

Questions

Skyler Barlow | David HobsonBrandon Pichanick | Diego Pinzon

Cait Stadler | Julie Swensen | Gabriel Vander Hey

CEFADES Selection Process

1 - Program Psychologist

2 - NGO’s and Government

3 - Parents

4 - Advertisement in Churches

Survey

Key Factors Measured

1 - Demographics

2 - Income

3 - Health

4 - Spillover Effects

Survey: By Gender Comparison

CEFADES - PSM results