Melissa Hidrobo

JEL Classification: I. Introduction Widespread fears exist among program implementers that transfers, in particular cash, targeted to women could put women at risk of violence from their partners—either due to men trying to take control of transfers or due to male backlash in response to shifting power dynamics (Cash Learning Partnership 2015; Mercy Corps 2015; World Bank 2019). A growing body of evidence, however, shows largely the opposite. Buller et al.

Relational benefits: decision-making and IPV In addition to social benefits, participants reported VESAs also benefited couples’ relationship dynamics. A few women reported that couples’ group meetings improved their relationship because of increased trust and respect, and being viewed as an equal decision-making partner: Some men reported that they appreciated this increased communication and joint decision-making within their relationship.

Photo by: rawpixel.com from Pexels Research from Bangladesh shows development programs often have a bigger impact than we intend — or even measure. We are a team of economists that evaluated the Transfer Modality Research Initiative — a pilot safety net program that provided cash or food transfers, with or without nutrition behavior change communication, or BCC, to poor mothers of young children in rural Bangladesh — to assess impacts on household food security and child nutrition.