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More assets, more decision-making power? Mediation model in a cluster-randomized controlled trial evaluating the effect of the graduation program on women's empowerment in Burkina Faso

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  • Karimli, Leyla
  • Lecoutere, Els
  • Wells, Christine R.
  • Ismayilova, Leyla

Abstract

To promote women’s empowerment, numerous programs provide economic services meant to increase women’s access to economic resources in the household. However, women’s access to economic resources does not always translate into improved bargaining power, and effects of economic strengthening interventions may vary across different decision-making domains. There is little robust evidence, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, showing the effect of improved access to economic resources on specific domains of decision-making within a family and very little is known about variation in this effect between monogamous and polygynous families. Furthermore, very few assessments explicitly examine specific pathways from participation in economic strengthening interventions to improved decision-making power in the household for women.

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  • Karimli, Leyla & Lecoutere, Els & Wells, Christine R. & Ismayilova, Leyla, 2021. "More assets, more decision-making power? Mediation model in a cluster-randomized controlled trial evaluating the effect of the graduation program on women's empowerment in Burkina Faso," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 137(C).
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:wdevel:v:137:y:2021:i:c:s0305750x20302862
    DOI: 10.1016/j.worlddev.2020.105159
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