<p>Recent evidence has pointed to the importance of socio-emotional skills development for improving business outcomes and for helping to close the gender gap between male- and female-owned small businesses. The World Bank Africa Gender Innovation Lab (GIL) and Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA) are partnering with the Nigeria Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to evaluate the impact of a program called Agro-Processing, Productivity Enhancement and Livelihood Improvement Support (APPEALS)—which provides business and technical skills, an in-kind cash grant, and mentorship—with and without the provision of an added socio-emotional skills training delivered to both men and women business owners.</p>

<p>Digital credit in Kenya has become a tool for households and small businesses to manage their day-to-day expenses, but concerns have been raised regarding rising household debt levels and defaults.&nbsp;In this project, IPA will collaborate with the Digital Lenders Association of Kenya (DLAK) to analyze credit data with a new information sharing system and measure the system’s effects on issues such as multiple lending, loan screening, and defaults.</p>

<p>The COVID-19 pandemic and the associated social and economic downturn are undermining children's educational and developmental outcomes, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.Leveraging an on-going longitudinal study, researchers in Ghana conducted phone surveys and other research activities to measure the pandemic’s repercussions on children’s education and broader developmental outcomes.&nbsp; Researchers in Ghana have conducted a study to measure the impact of COVID-19 on children’s educational and developmental outcomes.</p>