Systematic Review: What do We Know About Interventions to Increase Women’s Economic Participation and Empowerment in South Asia: Self-help Group Programs (2022)

The South Asia Gender Innovation Lab has published a review of studies that evaluate self-help group (SHG) programs as a mechanism for achieving changes in women’s economic outcomes. This review is part of a larger systematic review of rigorously evaluated interventions with direct or indirect effects on measures of women’s income, labor market, and empowerment outcomes in the South Asia region.

The review finds that participation in SHG programs positively affects saving amounts, civic inclusion, and measures of social capital. However, evidence for impacts on attitudes toward violence against women, self-perceptions, or aspirations is insufficient. The review highlights several avenues needing further exploration to allow for a better understanding (and the successful replication) of the group-based model. Read here