Random Update

The Long-Term Impact of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Cash Transfers on High-Risk Young Men in Liberia

Photo: Young men outside a local business in Monrovia, Liberia. © 2010 Glenna Gordon

Researchers: Christopher Blattman, Sebastian Chaskel, Julian Jamison, and Margaret Sheridan

To understand the long-term effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy among adults, researchers evaluated the impact of a short-term therapy program and the distribution of unconditional cash transfers on the behavior of high-risk young men in Liberia. Results demonstrated that therapy reduced criminal behavior among participants both in the short run, one year following the intervention, and in the long run, ten years later.

Two Generation Initiative | Catalyzing Research, Policy, and Practice to Improve Outcomes for Young Children and their Caregivers

Photo: A woman walking with her children in Uganda. © 2016 Shutterstock/Emre Topdemir

Authors: Sarah Kabay and Rebecca Smith

Building off the findings of our evidence review, IPA conducted a pilot study to explore how a parenting program for refugees and host communities could be adapted to incorporate a two generation perspective. Inspired by this and our related work, IPA launched its Two Generation Initiative in 2023 in Uganda and Colombia with a focus on populations affected by displacement. In the first year, we improved existing programming, mapped relevant interventions and policy, and catalyzed interest in two generation approaches across policy, practice, and research. Now, we are seeking to deepen our work and extend the initiative to new national, global, and thematic contexts.

Displaced Livelihoods Initiative (DLI) | Round III Call for Proposals

DLI supports rigorous research and scaling work to inform policies and programs on sustainable livelihoods for displaced populations and host communities. Proposals are due July 26.
 

Evidence for Responding to Displacement: A Scoping Review of Rigorous Impact Evaluations

This scoping review features a small but growing evidence base from evaluations of programs for displaced populations, across 27 settings. These evaluations cover a range of topics and outcomes, including household welfare, food security, education, health, livelihoods, and social cohesion.
 

Improving the Mental Health of Early Childhood Development Workers: Evaluating the Heal to Grow Program in Colombia

In collaboration with the Colombian Institute of Family Welfare, the Inter-American Development Bank and IPA Colombia conducted a randomized evaluation that found that a mental health program for early childhood development workers significantly improved their social-emotional skills and increased their support for children’s socio-emotional development.
 

Regularizing Venezuelan Refugees and Migrants Through Employment: Measuring the Impacts of the PEPFF Program in Colombia

UNHCR researchers partnered with IPA Colombia and the Ministry of Labor of Colombia to assess the impacts of an employment-based regularization program on Venezuelan refugees and migrants and local firms, focusing on employment-related outcomes, social cohesion within the workplace, and measures of general well-being.
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Improving Mental Health Outcomes for Survivors of Human Trafficking in Uganda

Researchers are partnering with IPA Uganda to conduct a randomized evaluation to measure whether a mental health program for human trafficking survivors that incorporates yoga, mindfulness techniques, and group discussions improves their mental health, physical, and social well-being.