'Why Childhood Adversity Matters for Adolescent Livelihood Programs

Social Protection and Youth Resilience: Evidence from Tanzania

Adolescence is often described as a period of opportunity. However, significant challenges shape this period for many young people, particularly in low-income settings. Poverty, exposure to violence, family instability, and limited opportunities can have lasting effects, influencing not only their health and well-being but also their future economic prospects. These early-life hardships are commonly referred to as Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). In Tanzania, where a large and growing youth population faces multiple vulnerabilities, understanding how these experiences shape outcomes is particularly important. Recent evidence indicates that many adolescents experience various forms of adversity, which can negatively affect their mental health, self-confidence, and ability to engage in productive activities.

Governments and development partners are increasingly investing in social protection programs designed to support young people during this critical stage. One such initiative is the Ujana Salama (Safe Youth) program, a "cash plus" intervention that combines financial support with life skills training, mentorship, and access to health services. The program aims to help adolescents transition to a healthy and productive adulthood.

Research presented at the ESA Conference and Evidence for Africa (2025) demonstrates that these integrated interventions can make a meaningful difference. The Ujana Salama program increased young people's participation in economic activities, including business engagement and livestock keeping, and improved psychosocial outcomes such as self-esteem and mental well-being factors critical to long-term success.

However, the role of early-life adversity is complex. While the program was broadly effective for many participants, young people who had experienced greater adversity did not always benefit in the same way. For example, while the intervention increased participation in livestock herding overall; impacts were positive among those with low ACES and negative among those with high ACES.  These diverging impacts suggest that underlying psychological and structural barriers may limit how some adolescents respond to economic opportunities. These findings highlight an important lesson for policymakers: financial support alone may not be sufficient. Programs designed to improve youth livelihoods must also address the psychological and social challenges they face. “Safe spaces” are an example of interventions that can help adolescents build trusted relationships, life skills, agency, and provide psychosocial support, as highlighted by a recent commentary in Lancet Regional Health: Africa. Integrating trauma-informed approaches and mental health support into social protection programs could help ensure that we do not leave behind the most vulnerable youth.

More broadly, this research points out the need for a holistic approach to youth development. Investments in adolescents can yield long-term benefits, not only for individuals but also for national development. As Tanzania continues to expand its social protection efforts, designing programs that recognize and respond to the realities of young people's lives will be key to success. Ultimately, helping adolescents overcome early-life adversity is not just a social priority but an economic one. Supporting young people today means building a more resilient and productive workforce for the future.

About the Author

Dr. Monica Sebastian Kauky is a Senior Lecturer in Economics at the University of Dar es Salaam and a Postdoctoral Research Fellow affiliated with the American Institutes for Research. She holds a PhD in Economics and MA in Economics from the University of Dar es Salaam. Her research focuses on development economics, with particular emphasis on agricultural productivity, gender, nutrition, and social protection in Sub-Saharan Africa. Her work examines the links between agricultural systems, household welfare, and human capital development, including child nutrition, education, and labour outcomes. Her current work is on examining The Influence of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) on productive impacts of a cash plus intervention for adolescents and youth in Tanzania. She has led and contributed to several research and policy projects funded by institutions such as the World Bank and the African Economic Research Consortium, addressing issues related to poverty, inequality, and social protection. Through her research, she contributes to evidence-based policies aimed at improving livelihoods, strengthening social protection systems, and promoting inclusive development.