Using gamification in development interventions: Evidence from a multidimensional poverty alleviation initiative in rural Paraguay

Abstract

Interventions focusing on behaviors and overcoming behavioral barriers have recently gained prominence in the global effort to overcome multidimensional poverty. This paper presents an innovative approach to addressing some poverty dimensions using the gamification technique, which aims at improving the wellbeing of impoverished rural communities and at empowerment of its members. Based on the iterative gamification experiments conducted in rural areas of Paraguay, we develop a gamification-based framework for the gamification-enabled intervention process and discuss the context in which this approach can be best applied, such as where the primary barrier to change is psychological reasons rather than a lack of resources.