Entz et al. (2016) reviewed both academic and grey literature to determine that Self Help Groups/Savings Groups had a net positive impact on food security. Out of 18 reports reviewed, 17 showed some improvement in household food consumption, reduction in lean months, increase in meals per day, increased diversity in diet, reduction in “suffering” due to food insecurity or increases in food security indices.
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.
Read MoreDas et al. (2016) evaluated the effect SHG membership had on women’s political engagement in Indian village assemblies. They found that SHG membership in 17 major states was positively and strongly associated with increased attendance in village assemblies.
Read MoreThe Tufts Feinstein International Center evaluated the role of Self Help Groups in building drought resilience in the 2015/2016 drought in Ethiopia. The study found that mature Self Help Groups were better able to protect their livestock, better able to reduce their group savings without reducing payments, and better able to maintain their household food supply.
Read MoreThis end of project evaluation assessed Tearfund Ireland’s SHG project in Ethiopia against OECD-DAC evaluation criteria. The project ranked highly on all five criteria: it holistically empowered the poorest members of the community; improved nutrition, health, education, household income and assets; and avoided high interest rates. SHGs were highly efficient, with major changes occurring at a low cost.
Read MoreBrody et al. (2015) explored the impact of SHGs on individual-level empowerment for women in low-and middle-income countries (Bangladesh, India, Thailand, Ethiopia, South Africa and Haiti), using evidence from 23 rigorous quantitative impact evaluations. They also delved into 11 qualitative evaluations on women’s opinions on participation and benefits of SHG membership. Their analysis pointed to positive effects on economic, political and social empowerment.
Read MoreIn a matched comparison study in Gujarat and Karnataka, Saha, Kermode and Annear (2015) looked at the effect on maternal and child health of combining a health program with an SHG program. They found that women in SHGs were more likely to deliver their babies in an institution, to feed colostrum to their newborns and to have a toilet at home. There was however no statistically significant reduction in diarrhea among children in the intervention community nor was there a reduction in spending on treatments.
Read MoreSanyal et al. (2015) qualitatively evaluated four villages participating in the JEEViKA program in Bihar, India to answer the question: how do large-scale development interventions induce cultural change? A key component of JEEViKA is the formation of SHGs and it was found that this intervention successfully challenged gender norms in a relatively short period of time.
Read MoreCasini et al. (2015) examined the social behavior of PRADAN’s SHGs and how it influenced the governance of rural Indian communities. As women join SHGs they tend to participate more frequently in collective actions, usually after about three years of weekly meetings. In Mayurbhanj and Keonjhar districts in Odisha, these collective actions did have a significant impact on local government officials and the issues they focused on.
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