PROTOCOL: The impacts of interventions for female economic empowerment at the community level on human development: a systematic review of the evidence in low‐ and middle‐income countries

Abstract

[...]we consider three capabilities: i) the capability to live a life of normal length with good physical and mental health, protected from violence and enjoying recreational activities; ii) the capability to think, reason and engage in critical reflection and iii) the capability to control one's environment by participating in decisions in the household and in the community. In this review, we focus on interventions that attempt to directly reduce or eliminate the challenges that women face, which prevent them from participating in economic activities. [...]we do not consider interventions that could indirectly affect female labour force participation as conditional cash transfers (Leroy et al. 2009 and Yoong et al. 2012; Kabeer et al.2012); education, vocational and financial literacy, entrepreneurship training programs —including field schools ( Miller et al. 2014; Tripney and Hombrados, 2013, Woodruff and McKenzie, 2014; Chinen et al. 2016); diverse types of information campaigns (i.e. Aker, 2010); interventions as certification to firms for good practice in hiring and retaining female employees, consulting and mentorship programs for women (Feigenberg, et al., 2013; Field, et al., 2016) or interventions that aim to reduce domestic violence against women ( Day, 2009). [...]in the analysis, we do not consider interventions that aim to empower women at the national and multinational level by increasing representation among CEOs or decision-making positions in government, through political reservations or within the judiciary system ( Dahlerup, 2013; Schmitt, 2015). [...]it is expected economic opportunities for women will affect female's bargaining power within the household ( Allendorf, 2007; Doss, 2013).