The Power of Data and Measurement to Improve Human Capital Outcomes
Resources from the Umbrella Program support the development of innovative approaches that harness the role of the Human Capital Index (HCI) to provide an evidence-based rationale that complements policy measures and targeted interventions. For example:
- In Kenya, grants from the Umbrella program helped develop a methodology that compiled government spending to build an investment case for early childhood development programs.
- Analytical work in Bangladesh highlighted interventions that improve learning outcomes and delay marriages for adolescent girls, resulting in the development of a new project on secondary education.
- In Pakistan, a survey identified challenges confronted by female informal workers, leading to actions that improve their working conditions.
Strong Outcomes from a Whole-of-Government Approach
Many analytical activities supported by the program inform policies and strategies, shape institutional changes, and bolster cross-sectoral programs – improving government’s implementation capacity to accelerate human capital outcomes.
- In Ethiopia, resources from the Umbrella Program helped revise national planning guidelines, standardizing and aligning strategies and policy frameworks at federal, regional, and local levels to combat stunting.
- A roadmap in Kenya identified potential entry points that improved policies and spending to invest in early childhood programs and boosted women’s productivity.
- Public Expenditure and Institutional Reviews (PEIRs) in Nigeria, Kenya, Bangladesh, and Ethiopia comprehensively analyze public fund allocation, expenditure effectiveness, and identify funding and financing gaps. These reviews serve as a foundation for designing and implementing effective interventions.
Decreased Gender Gaps in Human Capital Outcomes: Gender Innovation and Regional Learning (GIRL) in Africa
The GIRL Initiative complements the Sahel Women’s Empowerment and Demographic Dividend (SWEDD) project. The initiative aims to broaden and deepen girls’ and women’s empowerment in 9 countries across West and Central Africa, working with regional partners such as ECOWAS/WAHO and the African Union. It provides technical assistance to design and pilot transformative gender interventions that generate evidence to shape programs and policymaking.
