In 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 MoreA report by People in Need describes the SHG approach in urban Afghanistan, focusing on three main components: social development, economic development and institutional stability. The SHG approach leads to the social empowerment of its members through building communities of interdependence and mutual trust. Members experience economic empowerment in the medium to long term. Institutional stability can be achieved through the SHG approach over time.
Read MoreRuducha et al. (2018) explored whether social and advice networks affect the likelihood of immediate breastfeeding for recently delivered women, sampling 185 women from 36 villages in Uttar Pradesh, India. They found that women living in villages with an SHG had consistently higher numbers of relationship ties, health advice ties and higher density of health advice networks than women living in non-SHG areas. These ties then increased access to health messaging and strengthened the bond between local health providers and beneficiaries.
Read MoreIn a quasi-experimental study in India, Saggurti et al. (2018) sampled 1,182 groups (810 SHG groups and 372 control groups) to determine whether an eight-session behavior-change health intervention effected healthy maternal and newborn practices (MNCH). They found that structured participatory communication on MNCH with women’s groups improved positive health practices.
Read MoreSince marginalized groups are not easily reached through frontline health workers in Uttar Pradesh, India, Mozumdar et al. (2018) examined SHGs as a vehicle to improve knowledge of home based maternal and newborn care (HBMNC). Findings showed that SHGs can increase HBMNC knowledge among women as there were significant net-increases in women’s knowledge for most of the topics. The most significant determinant of the increase of knowledge was the women's education level.
Read MoreIn a meta-analysis spanning eight countries in South Asia, Kumar et al. (2018) looked at how women’s groups improve nutrition outcomes for women and children. They found that women’s groups have potential for improving maternal and child nutrition outcomes. It is not enough to just form the women’s groups without layering in contextually appropriate behavior change communication to improve health and nutrition awareness and knowledge. There were a number of null findings among the literature reviewed and the authors attributed that to a combination of program and implementation limitations.
Read MoreEvidence to date shows that women in SHGs are twice as likely to participate in local politics than women not in SHGs. Ongoing long term research evaluation is seeking to understand the indirect consequences of SHGs on women’s political behavior.
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.
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