This thematic area was launched in 2021 with the objective of informing the design and implementation of human capital interventions in the Sahel. The objective is to both to enhance human capital investments and protect households from divestments in the face of climate shocks.
The work is organized around three components:
(1) Linkages between climate shocks and human capital in the Sahel
(2) Interventions to strengthen investments in human capital in a shock-prone environment
(3) Protecting existing investments in human capital in a shock-prone environment
A few highlights
Early Childhood Development (ECD) in contexts affected by fragility, conflict, and violence (FCV)
A presents evidence from evaluations of ¡°cash +¡± programs, nutritional interventions and parenting interventions. It aims at identifying design features that make ECD interventions work in FCV contexts.
Behavioral change interventions in Niger are an effective tool to improve parenting practices and strengthen children¡¯s socio-emotional development in the Sahel
An impact evaluation provided evidence on the effectiveness of behavioural change interventions to improve parenting practices and strengthen children's socio-emotional development. Training parents to encourage health, nutrition, psycho-social stimulation, and childhood protection practices improved parenting practices and led to moderate gains in children¡¯s socio-emotional development | and
The importance of cross-sectoral cleaner cooking solutions in protecting human capital and reducing environmental damage in the Sahel.
Analysis of demographic and health survey data from five Sahel countries provided evidence that, in early childhood, exposure to household air pollution from solid cooking fuels is associated with an increased likelihood of growth faltering and undernutrition. This informed an upcoming pilot in Chad, financed by the Japan Social Development Fund, which harmonizes two World Bank social protection and energy projects to strengthen their impact on both human capital and climate change mitigation. | and