The present study focuses on genderwhile analyzing the effects of the Rural Poverty ReductionProject (RPRP) on the use of time and income generation aswell as on cultural and social capital aspects. The studywas based on a pilot project in Rio Grande do Norte designedto reinforce actions of the RPRP's focus on gender. Thestudy should be viewed only as an exploratory evaluationthat can be indicative of project effects, since the sampleused was small and the time span between thesubproject's implementation and the collection ofimpact data was short (only one year). However, othermeasures in the methodology guarantee a satisfactory minimumlevel of rigorousness in the evaluation, such as thecomparison to a control group taken from a pipelinepopulation of potential beneficiaries and a before-and-afterapproach to the analysis. The integration of gender concernsinto World Bank poverty-reducing programs has beenimplemented by promoting inclusive development, ensuringthat both women and men have a voice in the development oftheir community and benefit from new developmentopportunities. Part of this strategy is to advancewomen's economic empowerment by enhancing their abilityto participate in land, labor, financial, and productmarkets. The current study was conducted simultaneously withthe pilot project in order to document its results and, whenpossible, draw lessons that could be helpful in newoperations. The study estimates, on a preliminary basis, howcommunity investments that save women's time inhousehold activities by themselves or combined withinvestments in production create the enabling environmentfor women's economic empowerment and, eventually, helpreduce poverty.
PDF
download
878987797
028-85220240
