Public works programs, well-being, social cohesion and women’s empowerment: Evidence from a Randomized Control Trial in Egypt

Background Water and sanitation programs historically have focused on women's instrumental value in improving effectiveness and impact of programs, though focus is shifting to consider how programming and conditions may contribute to women's empowerment an gender equality. To date no systematic review has comprehensively assessed and synthesized evidence on water and sanitation and women's and girls' empowerment. The primary aims of this review were to: a) identify empirical water and sanitation research that engaged empowerment and/or empowerment-related domains from a pre-specified conceptual model; b) tabulate and report how empowerment-related terminology was used, where and when research was conducted, what methods were leveraged, and if water and/or sanitation was the primary focus; c) synthesize findings by empowerment domain and water and/or sanitation focus. Methods and Findings The conceptual model of women's and girls' empowerment developed by van Eerdewijk et.al (2017) informed our search strategy and analysis. The model presents three interrelated domains (agency, resources, institutional structures) and 13 sub-domains of empowerment. We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, CABI Global Health, PsycINFO, CINAHL and AGRICOLA for any peer-reviewed sources presenting research related to water and/or sanitation and either empowerment and/or related terms from the conceptual model (4 May 2020). Systematic and ancestry and decendency searching identified 12,616 publications, of which 257 were included following screening, representing 1,600,348 participants. We assessed all studies using the Mixed-Method Appraisal Tool (MMAT). We followed the 'best-fit framework synthesis' approach for analysis, using the domains and sub-domains of the conceptual model as codes to assess all included sources. During coding, we inductively identified two additional sub-domains relevant to water and sanitation: privacy and freedom of movement. Thematic analysis guided synthesis of coded text by domain and sub-domain. The majority of research took place in Asia (46%; 117) or Africa (40%; 102), engaged adults (69%; 177), and were published since 2010; (82%; 211). A greater proportion of studies focused on water (45%; 115) than sanitation (22%; 57) or both (33%; 85). Over half of articles use the term empowerment yet only 7% (17) provided a clear definition or conceptualization. Agency was the least commonly engaged domain (47%; 122) while the Resources domain was dominant (94%; 241). Measures for assessing empowerment and related domains is limited. This review was limited by only including sources in English and only includes menstruation-focused research in the context of water and sanitation. Conclusions Water and sanitation research specifically engaging women's and girls' empowerment in a well-defined or conceptualized manner is limited. A substantial body of research examining domains and sub-domains of empowerment exists, as does research that illuminates myriad negative impacts of water and sanitation conditions and circumstances women's and girl's well-being. Available research should be used to develop and evaluate programs focused on improving the life outcomes of women and girls, which has only been minimally conducted to date. A more comprehensive 'transformative WASH' that includes gender-transformative approaches to challenge and reduce systemic constraints on women's and girls' resources and agency is not only warranted but long overdue.

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SOCIOECONOMIC DETERMINANTS OF WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT: A CASE OF FARM HOUSEHOLDS IN ABEOKUTA, OGUN STATE

Eurasian Journal of Economics and Finance ◽

10.15604/ejef.2021.09.02.001 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (2) ◽

pp. 67-78

Author(s):

Chioma Patricia Adekunle ◽

◽

Augustine Adebayo Kutu ◽

David Alaba Alori ◽

◽

...

Keyword(s):

Bargaining Power ◽

Women's Empowerment ◽

Married Couples ◽

Well Being ◽

Gender Disparity ◽

Women’S Empowerment ◽

Farm Households ◽

Tobit Regression ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Socioeconomic Determinants

This study examines the socioeconomic determinants of women’s empowerment or bargaining power among married couples living in farm households in Nigeria. A multistage random sampling technique is employed to collect cross-sectional data from 320 farm households aged between 15 to 50 years. Women’s empowerment or bargaining power is measured using 18 questions, and a Tobit regression model is used to analyze all the variables employed. According to the findings, husbands have five more years of formal education than wives and literacy rates are higher for men (62%) than for women (30%). This differenceleads to more decision-making power for men. The result shows that there is a visible gender disparity in the worth and value of assets brought into the marriage, with the men bringing around 34% while that of the women is around 3% making men the main decision-makers and women less empowered. As a policy recommendation, women’s status in society should be enhanced through investment in education and well-being. Additionally, policies and programs aimed at leveraging the bargaining power of the woman in her attempts to make decisions in the household and increasing her empowerment should be formulated and implemented by policymakers.

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