Project Details.

The Zevar-e-Taleem Programme (ZTP) is a Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) initiative launched by the Government of Punjab in March 2017 to address gender disparities in secondary school enrolment and retention among girls in 16 low-literacy districts. The programme provides a monthly stipend of PKR 1,000 (disbursed quarterly as PKR 3,000) to eligible schoolgirls enrolled in classes 6 to 10 in public sector schools. Its broad objective is to enhance girls’ school enrolment and retention, while also contributing to their nutritional needs and overall well-being. 

ZTP is a modified continuation of the Girls Stipends Programme (GSP) that had been operational since 2004, with the stipend amount increased fivefold under ZTP and disbursements facilitated through a branchless banking mechanism. The programme aimed to not only improve educational outcomes but also support adolescent girls' transition to higher education, skills training, and economic participation. This evaluation was commissioned by PSPA and UNICEF to assess ZTP's effectiveness, relevance, and impact on both direct educational indicators and broader socio-economic inclusion of beneficiaries. 

HIMAT Consulting Private Limited (HCPL) successfully conducted the field implementation component of the impact evaluation of the Zevar-e-Taleem Programme (ZTP), under the guidance of a senior evaluation consultant and in collaboration with PSPA and UNICEF. HCPL deployed and managed a field team comprising 16 trained enumerators and 4 field supervisors to conduct a large-scale household survey involving 2,200 households from selected treatment and comparison tehsils. 

The firm used a two-stage stratified sampling approach, with spatial buffers around secondary schools, to ensure a representative and unbiased sample of girls aged 10-16 years. In addition to quantitative data collection, HCPL also conducted qualitative research through Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) with beneficiary students and their parents, and Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) with school administrators, PSPA and SED officials, and representatives from the Bank of Punjab. 

HCPL finalized the field tools, coordinated logistics, ensured ethical compliance including informed consent, and maintained rigorous quality assurance throughout the data collection process. The firm also contributed to triangulating qualitative insights with survey findings, supporting the evaluation team in producing a robust, evidence-based assessment of ZTP’s effectiveness and implementation fidelity.