Namibia - Vocational Training Grant Fund Impact Evaluation 2011-2016

The impact evaluation of the Vocational Training Grant Fund (VTGF) subactivity in Namibia used a random assignment design to determine the effects of VTGF-funded scholarships for vocational training on recipients' training and labor market outcomes, such as employment and earnings. Under this design, eligible applicants to each VTGF-funded training in which the number of applications exceeded the number of available slots were randomly assigned by the training provider either to a group that was offered a VTGF scholarship (treatment group) or one that was not (control group). The treatment and control groups for each training were expected to be equivalent, on average, except for the offer of VTGF funding. Therefore, differences in the outcomes of the treatment and control groups measured about one year after the end of training could be attributed to the impact of the VTGF funding. As described in the VTGF final evaluation report, the impact evaluation found that the scholarship offer substantially increased participation in and completion of vocational training, but that this did not translate into positive impacts on employment, earnings, or income. The impact evaluation was complemented by an implementation analysis, which drew on qualitative data collected close to the end of the compact; the implementation findings were provided in an interim evaluation report covering all three subactivities.