Motivation:
Female labour force participation in South Asia remains among the lowest in the world, constrained by entrenched gender norms, mobility restrictions, and the burden of unpaid care work. Bangladesh illustrates this challenge: while the country ranks second globally in supplying online freelance labor, women remain underrepresented in digital work. The Women’s Skills Development for Freelancing Marketplaces (WSDFM) program was launched to address these barriers, offering mentorship and subsidized training in graphics design, digital marketing, and web research to underprivileged women. A randomized controlled trial (RCT) showed substantial short-term gains—treated women were 18% more likely to be employed, worked 27% more hours, and earned 38% more income after one year. Yet, whether such impacts endure over time remains unknown, particularly as digital labor markets rapidly evolve and social norms change slowly.
Objective:
Using a mixed-method approach, this study evaluates the long-term impact of WSDFM five years post-intervention. The quantitative follow-up will capture the long-term impact of digital jobs training on female employment and earnings, decision-making power and financial independence, mental health, marital and fertility decisions, and intimate partner violence. Qualitative interviews will add depth by capturing perceived barriers to sustained engagement, experiences of online harms, and the role of peer networks in supporting women’s digital work. Finally, a long-term cost-benefit analysis will test whether training women for digital employment remains a scalable strategy for women’s economic empowerment in Bangladesh and similar contexts.
Proposed Impact:
This study will provide one of the first long-term assessments of digital job training for women in South Asia. By generating evidence on whether short-term benefits in employment and earnings translate into sustained empowerment, it will directly inform policymakers, training institutes, and development partners. Results will also contribute to global debates on the future of work, women’s digital inclusion, and the scalability of remote employment solutions in contexts where social norms restrict women’s labor force participation.
