Training for empowerment. Evidence and lessons learned on how to investigate how microfinance services can strengthen the position of women 

Nina Hansen (PhD, University of Groningen, The Netherlands)

Abstract. Empowering women is an important goal to achieve sustainable development worldwide. One prominent approach to strengthen women’s empowerment in the Global South is offering women access to microfinance services (e.g., microloans, training). However, previous research reports mixed findings on this relation and even unexpected negative effects such as increased intimate partner violence. I will argue that to strengthen women’s position, gendered power relations between women and their partners as well as the cultural context need to be considered. Women are not individual agents but are embedded in relationships (e.g., marital), which also influence their position. In this presentation, I will present different lines of research ranging from a theoretical review on the meaning and measurement of women’s empowerment to different field studies conducted in Vietnam and Sri Lanka (e.g., correlational study, randomized control trial, field experiments with behavioral observation). Offering business training also focusing on gender norms and inviting husbands to join a training are promising ways to strengthen the position of women in these cultures. I will critically discuss results and research methods on how gendered power imbalances may need to be addressed to stimulate social change towards gender equity.