Poverty and gender norms that promote early marriage and childbearing are some barriers to school participation among adolescent girls in Northern Nigeria. Through Plan International Nigeria’s Project aimed at educating vulnerable girls, 5,432 schoolgirls in Borno and Yobe States received cash and voucher assistance (CVA) to support them remain in school. This study was to determine the effectiveness of CVA on school participation for recipient schoolgirls.

Using stratified random sampling, a mixed methods cross-sectional survey was utilized to collect data from 650 schoolgirls (214 cash recipients, 219 voucher recipients and 217 CVA non-recipients) and 655 parents/caregivers. Ethical approvals were obtained from the Health Research Ethics Committees in Borno and Yobe States.

There was no association between school participation and receipt of CVA amongst targeted girls. The rate of self-reported formal school enrolment, school progression, and absenteeism was found to be statistically the same irrespective of CVA recipiency status. Forty seven percent (n=15) of schoolgirls aged 18 and above missed school in the last term, compared to 14% of schoolgirls aged 15-17 (n=225) and 14% aged 10-14 (n=408). Parents/caregivers and schoolgirls however reported that receipt of CVA improved motivation and morale of schoolgirls to remain in school, as they already enrolled in school before the assistance.

The study has shown that though CVA is effective in motivating girls to remain in school, it does not determine their school participation. As the CVA intervention targeted only girls already enrolled in school, future studies should consider the effectiveness of CVA in school enrolment and retention for out-of-school girls and boys.

Keywords: Cash and Voucher Assistance, Education, Girls.