See the presentation on SlideShare:
A study participant in Bangladesh holding her beneficiary card, surrounded by her family. Photo: Shalini Roy, IFPRI.
Intimate partner violence (IPV) is the most pervasive form of violence globally—with 1 in 3 women physically or sexually abused by a partner in her lifetime. IPV has multiple malign consequences for the physical and mental health of women, as well as a range of adverse effects on their children. While these consequences are well documented, there is less evidence on the effectiveness of policies and programs in reducing IPV in the developing world. Drawing mainly from Latin America, several recent studies find evidence that cash transfer programs, targeted primarily to women, can reduce IPV. Given that cash transfer programs are widespread around the world – implemented in over 130 countries and reaching approximately 718 million people globally – they represent a promising, scalable, globally-relevant approach to reducing IPV. However important questions remain as to the generalizability of existing findings.
In this webinar, we will briefly describe a framework for potential pathways through which transfers can affect IPV, then showcase 3 PIM-funded studies that explore important knowledge gaps on the impacts of transfer programs on IPV. The three case studies draw from countries around the globe – Ecuador, Bangladesh, and Mali – and address 3 distinct policy-relevant questions about how transfer programs can reduce IPV:
We conclude with lessons learned from these case studies that can inform future policy aimed at using transfers to reduce IPV.
Cash or food transfers combined with behavior change communication reduce intimate partner violence: evidence from Bangladesh
Can cash transfers prevent intimate partner violence?
Melissa Hidrobo is a Research Fellow in the Poverty Health and Nutrition Division of the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). She is an applied microeconomist working at the intersection of gender, early childhood development, agriculture, and social protection. Her gender research focuses on how social protection programs affect intrahousehold dynamics, and how intrahousehold dynamics affect agriculture production. She has investigated the impacts of cash transfers programs and food assistance programs through her work with the Bono de Desarrollo Humano Program and the World Food Program in Ecuador, and the Jigisemejiri program in Mali. Her current works involves impact evaluations of nutrition-sensitive agricultural and social protection programs in Mali, Ghana, and Senegal. Melissa holds a Ph.D. in Agricultural and Resource Economics from the University of California, Berkeley.
Shalini Roy is a Research Fellow in the Poverty, Health, and Nutrition Division of the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). Her research focuses on households’ economic behavior related to social protection, nutrition, agriculture, gender, and early childhood development. Much of her work is based on impact evaluations of development programming in these areas, with a particular interest in how programs both affect and are affected by intrahousehold dynamics. Her work spans South Asia (with a regional focus in Bangladesh), Africa, and Latin America.
Recent research includes comparing impacts of food and cash transfers on food security, nutrition, gender dynamics, and early childhood development in Bangladesh and Uganda; evaluating impacts of large-scale cash transfer projects in Mali, Brazil, and Mexico; and assessing gender- and nutrition-related impacts of agricultural projects in Bangladesh. Shalini has been at IFPRI since 2009 and holds a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania.
The PIM webinars aim to share findings of PIM’s research, discuss their application, and get feedback and suggestions from participants. Webinars are conducted by PIM researchers in the form of research seminars. Each webinar is a live event consisting of a presentation (30 min) and a facilitated Q&A session (30 min).
Strengthening developing-country seed systems and markets. Policy trade-offs, unintended consequences, and operational realities October 25, 2017. Presenter: David Spielman, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI
What determines public budgets for agricultural growth in the developing world? September 26, 2017. Presenter: Tewodaj Mogues, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI
Community forestry. Where and why has devolution of forest rights contributed to better governance and livelihoods? August 29, 2017. Presenter: Steven Lawry, Director, Equal Opportunities, Gender, Justice, and Tenure, CIFOR
What levels and composition of investment best serve global objectives of sustainable development? June 28, 2017. Presenter: Mark Rosegrant, Director of the Environment and Production Technology Division at the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)
The rise of medium-scale farms in Africa May 23, 2017. Presenter: Prof. Thomas Jayne (MSU)
Collecting sex-disaggregated agricultural data through surveys April 21, 2016. Presenters: Cheryl Doss (Yale/PIM) and Caitlin Kieran (PIM/IFPRI)
