In 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.
Read MoreDavidson and Sanyal (2017) explored whether women who participate in SHGs have larger social networks than non-participants in 75 villages in Karnataka, India. They found that SHG participants, despite being more socioeconomically disadvantaged than non-participants, had significantly more incoming ties from nonkin than both non-participant women and men, which improved their access to resources and increased their social capital.
Read MoreIn 2005, the Government of Tamil Nadu launched its Pudhu Vaazhvu Project (PVP) in 2,300 village panchayats throughout the state. PVP used SHGs to reduce economic vulnerability and increase women’s agency and empowerment. In this study, Parthasarathy et al. (2017) used text-as-data methods to determine whether PVP induced women’s participation within village assemblies (gram sabha) and concluded that the project did in fact increase women’s attendance, propensity to speak and length of floor time.
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 MoreIn twenty-five villages in Uttar Pradesh, India, Aruldas et al. (2017) qualitatively explored the connection between SHG membership and care-seeking for maternal and newborn illnesses. Though cultural practices hindered prompt care seeking for both SHG households and non-SHG households, there was some evidence that SHG households were seeking care sooner.
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