A large-scale randomized controlled trial of the SBAE model in Liberia, led by economist Chris Udry at Northwestern University, found significant positive impacts on agricultural technology adoption and school retention, particularly for girls.
The study was launched in 2020, as a partnership between AgriCorps, 4-H Liberia, Northwestern University and Innovations for Poverty Action, involving 100 treatment and 97 control schools. Three years after establishing the program at schools, the study found that SBAE was almost 3 times more effective in encouraging adult farmers to adopt improved farming practices, than traditional extension programs. It also kept youth in school longer and changed their perceptions about agriculture as a viable and desirable career path.
A large-scale randomized controlled trial of the SBAE model in Liberia, led by economist Chris Udry at Northwestern University, found significant positive impacts on agricultural technology adoption and school retention, particularly for girls.
The study was launched in 2020, as a partnership between AgriCorps, 4-H Liberia, Northwestern University and Innovations for Poverty Action, involving 100 treatment and 97 control schools. Three years after establishing the program at schools, the study found that SBAE was almost 3 times more effective in encouraging adult farmers to adopt improved farming practices, than traditional extension programs. It also kept youth in school longer and changed their perceptions about agriculture as a viable and desirable career path.
The International Agricultural Education Fellowship Program (IAEFP) was included in the US Farm Bill, to provide funding for SBAE programs to be established in developing countries by US fellows.
From 2015-2018, AgriCorps implemented a fellowship program, supporting US volunteers to establish SBAE programs in Ghana and Liberia. In 2018, this program was rebranded as the International Agricultural Education Fellowship Program (IAEFP) and included in the US Farm Bill. Since 2020, $4M has been released by the US government to fund 72 fellows across four countries: Ghana, Uganda, Mexico, and Guatemala.
Since 2013, more than $12 million has been catalyzed for SBAE programs around the world.
In addition to the funding released by the US Government through the IAEFP, AgriCorps has supported local NGOs such as 4-H Liberia and 4-H Ghana to source funding from a variety of donors including the Gates Foundation, US African Development Foundation, World Food Program, John Deere, DuPont Pioneer, and USAID.
Since 2013, more than $12 million has been catalyzed for SBAE programs around the world.
In addition to the funding released by the US Government through the IAEFP, AgriCorps has supported local NGOs such as 4-H Liberia and 4-H Ghana to source funding from a variety of donors including the Gates Foundation, US African Development Foundation, World Food Program, John Deere, DuPont Pioneer, and USAID.
Our replicable SBAE model and the related teacher training materials are used by SBAE implementers in Liberia, Ghana, Guatemala, Ethiopia, and Nicaragua.
Direct technical support has also been provided to local organizations, enabling them to scale. Since 2019, AgriCorps has supported 4-H Liberia to implement SBAE in 150 schools and train over 600 teachers to reach 4,000 youth each year.
