Government of Ethiopia's public works and complementary programmes: A mixed-methods study on pathways to reduce intimate partner violence

Ranganathan, N.; Pichon, Marjorie; Hidrobo, Melissa; Tambet, Heleene; Sintayehu, Wastina; Tadesse, Seifu; Buller, Ana Maria

doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2022.114708

Cited by 10 publications

(11 citation statements)

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“…An impact evaluation of SPIR found that the programme improved outcomes related to livelihoods but had limited impact on nutrition. 28 Our companion mixed-methods paper found mixed impacts on women’s empowerment and IPV, 14 but that both PSNP and SPIR decreased poverty-related stress and conflict in the household, which are demonstrated pathways in the literature on cash transfers impact on IPV. 9 12 While both studies show plus activities are promising for improving some outcomes, they do not disentangle the impacts of the content of the activities from the delivery platform of the group-based activities, called Village Economic and Social Associations (VESAs).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 80%

“…We focused our sampling in Oromia on men to allow for a deeper exploration of men’s reactions to women’s empowerment, and if and how engaging couples in complementary activities affected household gender dynamics (for the analysis on these objectives see Ranganathan et al ). 14 Participants were purposively sampled from households included both in the baseline and midline quantitative surveys of the impact evaluation. Inclusion criteria encompassed participant’s or partner’s experience of IPV, intervention arm and participation in plus programme activities (for further details on sampling and data collection, see Ranganathan et al ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Rigorous evidence from low-income and middle-income countries demonstrates that although originally conceived as a poverty alleviation tool and not for violence prevention, cash and cash plus interventions can contribute to decreasing economic stress in households and reducing conflict within relationships, resulting in reductions in IPV 9–12. An additional—although less understood—pathway by which cash transfers and associated plus components may impact IPV is by empowering women 9 13 14. This pathway can be better unpacked through an agency and social capital lens.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Delivering plus activities through group-based platforms is an increasingly popular design feature of cash transfer programmes 22 23. Evidence shows that different types of group interventions can empower participants by improving their social status in the household and at the community level11 13 14; strengthening social networks and ultimately social capital11; and facilitating collective power and action by group and community members 24 25. There is also evidence to suggest that group-based platforms may directly increase women’s social, economic and political empowerment by leading to financial independence, increased solidarity and enhanced social networks 25–27.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…There is also evidence to suggest that group-based platforms may directly increase women’s social, economic and political empowerment by leading to financial independence, increased solidarity and enhanced social networks 25–27. There is little evidence, however, on the added value of providing the cash plus activities through group-based platforms and if this mode of delivery also contributes to enhancing cash transfers’ potential in reducing IPV 11 14 24…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Cash plus programming and intimate partner violence: a qualitative evaluation of the benefits of group-based platforms for delivering activities in support of the Ethiopian government’s Productive Safety Net Programme (PSNP)

et al. 2023

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ObjectivesIntimate partner violence (IPV) is a public health challenge but there is evidence that cash and cash ‘plus’ interventions reduce IPV. An increasingly popular design feature of these kind of interventions is the group-based modality for delivering plus activities, however, evidence of the mechanisms through which this modality of delivery impacts IPV is limited. We explore how the group-based modality of delivering plus activities that complemented the Government of Ethiopia’s Productive Safety Net Programme contributed to modifying intermediate outcomes on the pathway to IPV.DesignQualitative study using in-depth interviews and focus group discussions between February and March 2020. Data were analysed using a thematic content and gender lens approach. Findings were interpreted, refined and drafted in collaboration with our local research partners.SettingAmhara and Oromia regions in Ethiopia.ParticipantsIn total 115 men and women beneficiaries from the Strengthen PSNP4 Institutions and Resilience (SPIR) programme took part in the study. Fifty-eight were interviewed and 57 took part in 7 focus group discussions.ResultsWe found that Village Economic and Social Associations—through which SPIR activities were delivered—improved financial security and increased economic resilience against income shocks. The group-based delivery of plus activities to couples appeared to enhance individual agency, collective power and social networks, which in turn strengthened social support, gender relations and joint decision-making. Critical reflective dialogues provided a reference group to support the shift away from social norms that condone IPV. Finally, there appeared to be gender differences, with men highlighting the financial benefits and enhanced social status afforded by the groups, whereas women’s accounts focused primarily on strengthened social networks and social capital.ConclusionOur study offers important insights into the mechanisms by which the group-based delivery of plus activities affects intermediate outcomes on the pathway to IPV. It underscores the importance of the modality of delivery in such programmes, and suggests that policy-makers should consider gender-specific needs as men and women might differentially benefit from interventions that enhance social capital to generate gender transformative impacts.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 80%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%