The evidence on Self Help Groups in Bangladesh, Nigeria and Uganda shows how and where local and national organizations can fit in to best support and complement the needs of community driven initiatives.
Read MoreFagan et al. (2020) evaluated the impact of SHGs in Ethiopia on the psychosocial and spiritual wellbeing of their members. They studied Tearfund’s SHGs both quantitatively and qualitatively as a cross-sectional study at one point in time. The study found the impact of SHGs on psychosocial outcomes to be significant and cumulative since older groups scored more highly on psychological and social wellbeing.
Read Morede Hoop et al. (2020) outline the implications of COVID-19 on women’s groups in India, Nigeria and Uganda and how the groups may help mitigate the effects of the pandemic for their communities. Groups were found to be affected by social distancing and the economic repercussions of the lockdowns. However, they can strengthen their member’s resilience to shocks and serve as crucial partners in community response.
Read MoreIn an evidence review that studied 46 high quality evaluations of interventions delivered through SHGs in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, Gugerty et al. (2019) found that though the impacts of SHG-based interventions were generally positive, the evidence base was limited and did not generally test whether alternative delivery mechanisms might be more effective.
Read MoreThe Christian Council of Tanzania (CCT) implemented the Pamoja Kongwa project from 2014 to 2017 in 25 project villages in Kongwa district to increase access to financial and social capital. The Pamoja methodology is based on the SHG approach and was adapted for Tanzania; it is primarily conducted through the church. Through desk reviews, interviews and focus group discussions, this program evaluation determined that the Pamoja Kongwa project met and exceeded most of its objectives.
Read MoreThe Overseas Development Institute (ODI) investigated the effect SHGs have on building resilience and food security in chronic crises and found that they were very effective when coping with idiosyncratic shocks in SNNPR, Ethiopia. Covariate shocks were more complicated, because in those cases the entire community suffered and often members diversified their incomes with climate- dependent initiatives.
Read MoreTear Netherlands and Tearfund UK partnered to implement a food security program in the Horn of Africa (Kenya, Ethiopia, Somaliland), with SHGs playing a central role. The final evaluation of the program evaluated the impact of the initiative on the food security and resilience of the most marginalized in the area. The evaluation team found that SHG members, especially longer standing ones, were better able than non-members to withstand shocks such as drought and were better placed for recovery.
Read MoreThe University of Reading evaluated modalities for delivering emergency assistance to SHGs during the 2015 drought in Ethiopia. The study involved 230 groups receiving 30 USD per SHG member. The study found that SHGs with transfers saved and invested more; there was no damage to the capital accumulation from before the cash transfer; and social structures were unaffected.
Read MoreThe Overseas Development Institute (ODI) compared SHG and Savings Groups (SG) programming by Tearfund, CARE, Oxfam, CST and COSAP in Ethiopia in 2016. The study assessed the outcomes and change pathways of the organizations’ various approaches as well as the impact micro-finance has on the SG/SHGs.
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