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Delivering development? Evidence on self‐help groups as development intermediaries in South Asia and Africa

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  • Mary Kay Gugerty
  • Pierre Biscaye
  • C. Leigh Anderson

Abstract

Donors and governments increasingly seek to deliver development projects through community‐based organizations such as self‐help groups (SHGs), but little is known about the effectiveness of such arrangements. This article briefly summarizes hypotheses regarding the effectiveness of interventions using SHGs and presents the results of an evidence review on the impacts of interventions delivered through SHGs on health, finance, agriculture and empowerment outcomes in South Asia and sub‐Saharan Africa. Though the impacts of SHG‐based interventions are generally positive, the evidence base is limited and does not generally test whether alternative delivery mechanisms might be more effective.

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  • Mary Kay Gugerty & Pierre Biscaye & C. Leigh Anderson, 2019. "Delivering development? Evidence on self‐help groups as development intermediaries in South Asia and Africa," Development Policy Review, Overseas Development Institute, vol. 37(1), pages 129-151, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:devpol:v:37:y:2019:i:1:p:129-151
    DOI: 10.1111/dpr.12381
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    2. K. Gayathri Reddy & Varsha, P. S. & L. N. Sudheendra Rao & Amit Kumar, 2019. "Exploring dimension, perceived individual tension and capacity building measure of women empowerment in India," Asian Journal of Empirical Research, Asian Economic and Social Society, vol. 9(5), pages 111-131, May.
    3. Zavaleta Cheek, Jennifer & Corbett, Priscilla E., 2024. "Public decision making by women’s self-help groups and its contributions to women’s empowerment: Evidence from West Bengal, India," World Development Perspectives, Elsevier, vol. 33(C).
    4. Guido, Zack & Knudson, Chris & Finan, Tim & Madajewicz, Malgosia & Rhiney, Kevon, 2020. "Shocks and cherries: The production of vulnerability among smallholder coffee farmers in Jamaica," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 132(C).
    5. Nichols, Carly, 2021. "Self-help groups as platforms for development: The role of social capital," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 146(C).
    6. Sekhon, Sumeet & Grant, Miriam, 2021. "Patterns of loan use for women’s self-help groups in rural Rajasthan," World Development Perspectives, Elsevier, vol. 24(C).
    7. Nichols, Carly, 2024. "Equity and empowerment effects: Multiple styles of ‘voluntarism’ in community-based health projects," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 174(C).
    8. Soumyadeep Banerjee & Abid Hussain & Sabarnee Tuladhar & Arabinda Mishra, 2019. "Building capacities of women for climate change adaptation: Insights from migrant-sending households in Nepal," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 157(3), pages 587-609, December.

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