Supporting Women’s Livelihoods at Scale: Evidence from a Nationwide Multi-Faceted Program

Ioana Botea, Andrew Brudevold-Newman, Markus Goldstein, Corinne Low and Gareth Roberts

ABSTRACT

This study presents the results of a multi-arm randomized evaluation of the Government of Zambia’s Supporting Women’s Livelihoods (SWL) program, which included business and skills training, a productive grant, saving groups support and mentoring. Researchers found that the multifaceted program yielded increases in consumption, food security, assets, household income, and mental health, without negative economic spillovers on non-beneficiaries. However, the effects were entirely driven by the grant portion of the intervention, indicating a streamlined package could be a promising poverty alleviation strategy for developing-country governments.