Understanding and measuring womens economic ... - ICRW

Definition, Framework and Indicatorsby Anne Marie Golla, Anju Malhotra,Priya Nanda, and Rekha MehraUnderstanding and MeasuringWomen’s Economic EmpowermentDefinition, Framework and Indicators

2Understanding and Measuring Women’s Economic EmpowermentAnne Marie Golla/ICRWAcknowledgmentsICRW gratefully acknowledges theDepartment of International Development(DFID), the ExxonMobil Foundation and theBill and Melinda Gates Foundation for theirgenerous support of this work.Cover photos: David Snyder/ICRWDesign: Barbieri and Green© 2011 International Center for Research on Women (ICRW). Portions of this document may be reproducedwithout express permission from but with acknowledgment to ICRW.

Definition, Framework and Indicators 3I. IntroductionThere is increasing recognition that economicallyempowering women is essentialboth to realize women’s rights and toachieve broader development goals such aseconomic growth, poverty reduction, health,education and welfare. In the last five years,a broad range of organizations have committedthemselves to the goal of women’seconomic empowerment. These organizationsrealize that economically empoweringwomen is a win-win that can benefit notonly women, but society more broadly. Itpromotes women’s ability to achieve theirrights and well-being while also reducinghousehold poverty, increasing economicgrowth and productivity, and increasingefficiency.Research has found strong reasons to emphasizewomen’s economic empowerment indevelopment programs:• Economic empowerment is one of themost powerful routes for women toachieve their potential and advance theirrights.• Since women make up the majority of theworld’s poor, meeting poverty-reductiongoals requires addressing women andtheir economic empowerment.• Discrimination against women is economicallyinefficient. National economies lose outwhen a substantial part of the populationcannot compete equitably or realize its fullpotential.• Working with women makes good businesssense. When women have the rightskills and opportunities, they can helpbusinesses and markets grow.• Women who are economically empoweredcontribute more to their families, societiesand national economies. It has beenshown that women invest extra income intheir children, providing a route to sustainabledevelopment.As interest in fostering women’s economicempowerment grows, two questions arise.1. How is women’s economic empowermentdefined? What does the term women’seconomic empowerment encompass?2. How can women’s economic empowermentbe measured and evaluated soorganizations can show they are on theright track to achieving it?Answers to these questions are essential todesign meaningful strategies that will leadto women’s economic empowerment. Thisdocument addresses them by presenting:1. A definition of women’s economic empowerment;2. A measurement framework that canguide the design, implementation andevaluation of programs to economicallyempower women; and3. A set of illustrative indicators that canserve as concrete examples for developingmeaningful metrics for success.The concepts presented here are meant tohelp practitioners, researchers and donorsdesign effective, measurable interventions toadvance women economically. In developingthese concepts, we have drawn both onthe available literature and on ICRW’s directexperience in evaluating women’s economicempowerment programs. This document is intendedas a conceptual guide, rather than anoperational tool kit. Economic empowermentis a complex process, and the general frameworkpresented here will have to be adaptedto meet the needs of specific projects.Brian Heilman/ICRW

4 Understanding and Measuring Women’s Economic EmpowermentII. Defining Women’s EconomicEmpowermentDefinition: A woman is economicallyempowered when she has both the abilityto succeed and advance economicallyand the power to make and act oneconomic decisions.• To succeed and advance economically,women need the skills and resources tocompete in markets, as well as fair andequal access to economic institutions.• To have the power and agency tobenefit from economic activities, womenneed to have the ability to make andact on decisions and control resourcesand profits.As Figure 1 illustrates, economic empowermentis comprised of two inter-relatedcomponents: 1) economic advancement and2) power and agency. Both componentsare connected, and both are necessary toachieve better lives for women and theirfamilies. Economic gain and success(economic advancement) promote women’spower and agency. At the same time,when a woman is able to control and sharein resource use (power) and to define andmake choices (agency), she is better able toadvance economically.III. Addressing Women’sEconomic EmpowermentTo achieve women’s economic empowerment,organizations must address theunderlying factors that contribute to it:individual and community resources, andnorms and institutions.Resources are the building blocks womencan draw on to succeed economically orto exercise power and agency. Resourcescan be at the individual or community level.They are more than financial or monetary innature, and include:• Human capital (e.g., education,skills, training)• Financial capital (e.g., loans, savings)• Social capital (e.g., networks, mentors)• Physical capital (e.g., land, machinery)POWER AND AGENCY➤➤definecontrol and shareeconomicNorms and Institutions are the “rules ofthe game” or the organizational and socialsystems that govern activities and mediaterelations between individuals and theirsocial and economic environment. Normsand institutions influence how resources aredistributed and used.• Norms include gender defined roles,taboos, prohibitions and expectationssuch as whether or not it is appropriatefor women to be in public spaces, holdcertain types of jobs, or manage money.• Institutions include legal and policystructures, economic systems, marketstructures, marriage, inheritance andeducation systems.gainresources ➤and make choices ➤ECONOMIC ADVANCEMENTWOMEN’SECONOMICEMPOWERMENTeconomic successAnne Marie Golla/ICRWFigure 1: Women’s Economic Empowerment: Two Necessary, Inter-related Components

Definition, Framework and Indicators5Projects may approach economic empowermentby working either to enhance theresources available to women or to redefinenorms and institutions. Furthermore, projectsmay work toward advancing women economicallyor building women’s power and agency.These different paths to addressing women’seconomic empowerment are illustrated inFigure 2. For example, a microcredit programthat provides loans to women works primarilyto increase women’s economic advancementthrough resources. A literacy or lifeskills program primarily increases women’spersonal resources in order to increase theirpower and agency. While both projects workto increase women’s economic empowerment,they do so along different pathways.110613 ICRW Folder graphics B G Y:11-0 10/5/11 12:09 PM Page 2RESOURCESIn addition, economic empowerment can beaddressed at different levels. For example,projects may work at the individual, householdor organization level, or at the level ofcommunities or social networks.The specific factors that signal progresstoward women’s economic empowermentmay be different in different contexts. Theymay even change over time, as countriesor regions become more developed. Figure2 provides examples of how some projectswould fit within the framework.PROJECT EXAMPLELiteracy Trainingprovides a personalresource that boostswomen’s agency.No single program can address all of thefactors that contribute to women’s economicempowerment. Rather, if economic empowermentis seen as a complex, multilayeredpie, programs should “choose their slice.”That is to say, they should concentrateefforts on where they can make the mostdifference given their resources, timeframe,local conditions, and also consider whatother organizations are doing.Even though most programs take on theirspecific slice of the pie, framing their workwithin a broader framework of economic empowermentis essential. Understanding thewider opportunities and challenges womenface in the specific context of the project isimportant in order to:• Determine where resources are best spentto meet goals;• Design the best intervention;• Identify areas outside of the project focusthat may help or hinder its success; and• Define clearly what the program willand will not change, and where changeoutside of the project is necessary for theproject to succeed.POWER AND AGENCYPROJECT EXAMPLEMicrocreditremoves constraints tofinancial resources thatmay allow women toadvance economically.PROJECT EXAMPLEMarket Based Approacheschange how market actorsand institutions treatwomen and allow for theireconomic advancement.WOMEN’SECONOMICEMPOWERMENTECONOMIC ADVANCEMENTNORMS AND INSTITUTIONSPROJECT EXAMPLECommunity Campaignschange social institutions(norms) that present barriersto women’s agency.Figure 2: Contributors to Women’s Economic Empowerment Addressing Resources, Institutions and Norms

6Understanding and Measuring Women’s Economic EmpowermentIV. Measuring Women’sEconomic EmpowermentAs illustrated in Figure 2, women’s economicempowerment has many dimensions and isspecific to the context under consideration.Projects address economic empowermentthrough different pathways. The indicatorssuitable for one area or program may notbe relevant elsewhere. No universal set ofindictors is appropriate for every project, inevery sector and in every context.110613 ICRW Folder graphics B G Y:11-0 10/7/11 9:06 AM Page 3Rather, measurement should align with the“slice” of women’s economic empowermentthat a particular program choosesto address. For evaluation purposes, aproject should measure only what itwill reasonably change. While effectivelymeasuring women’s economic empowermentrequires considering indicators of both women’seconomic advancement and women’spower and agency, many projects do not seekto achieve change in both areas. This meansthat individual projects may focus measurementmore on one component than the otheror may not measure both components.Figure 3 presents a matrix for measuringwomen’s economic empowerment, whichuses sample indicators to show differentstages at which results can be measured.These stages range from project outputsand immediate outcomes to intermediateand longer term impacts. Determiningwhich stage to measure depends on whatis feasible to measure given the project’sresources, expected impact and timeframe.As the matrix shows, agency/power andeconomic advancement can be measuredseparately. Both quantitative and qualitativemethods are appropriate for measurement,depending on what type of information isneeded and feasible to collect.The framework emphasizes the importanceof not focusing exclusively on impact indicatorsin developing monitoring and evaluation(M&E) plans. It is equally important to prioritizethe measurement of process, output andoutcome indicators, such as women’s participationin the project and which womenparticipated. All projects should measurebasic process outputs and outcomes.These indicators can provide initial assessmentsof whether a project is on the righttrack and whether it is engaging women asintended. They are usually more straightforwardto measure than indicators of deeperor longer-term impact. Not all indicators canor should be measured at the highest level.Often, it is not realistic to expect to beable to measure the deepest, long-termimpact within the project’s time frame.POWER AND AGENCYOUTPUTOUTCOMEOUTCOMEIMPACTIMPACTWomen'sparticipation inactivitiesIncreased selfefficacy,abilityto makedecisionsIncreasedbargainingpowerIncreasedcontrol ofhouseholdresourcesIncreasedfinancialindependenceWomen'sparticipation inactivitiesNew skills,changes inbusinesspracticeAccess to newmarketsIncreasedprofitImprovedlivelihoodOUTPUTOUTCOMEOUTCOMEIMPACTIMPACTECONOMIC ADVANCEMENTFigure 3: A Framework to Measure Women’s Economic Empowerment

8Understanding and Measuring Women’s Economic EmpowermentPower and Agency IndicatorsControl overassetsAgency/Decision-makingAutonomy andMobilitySelf-confidence/Self-efficacyIndividual/Household LevelWomen’s ownership of productive assets(land, animals, machinery)Women have their own source of incomeShare of household income provided by womenWomen have control over how to spend some cashor savingsProportion of women’s income spent on herselfand childrenWomen’s involvement in major household decisions,i.e. large purchases (car, house, household appliance),agricultural decisionsWomen’s access to information and technologyWomen’s ability to visit friends, family, associatesWomen’s ability to use public transportation/travel freelyin public spacesWomen’s use of media, phone, technologyPsychological wellbeingAttitudes on own self-esteemArticulateness and confidence in speakingwith authoritiesCommunity/Institution LevelLaws that protect women’s property rightsExisting laws are enforced at the community levelWomen represented as owners of larger businesses andin business leadershipUse of community resources in ways that benefit women(pumps, clinics, schools, etc.)Women’s participation in community groups/associations/networksWomen’s involvement in community decision-makingWomen have leadership roles in the communityRates of abuse, assault, harassment against women inpublic spacesCommunity valuing of women’s entitlement and inclusionGender Norms Ability to negotiate sexual and reproductive decisions Shifts in marriage and kinship systemsGender Roles/ResponsibilitiesAttitudes on women and workAttitudes on women and mobilityAttitudes on women and violenceNumber of hours spent in houseworkGender segregation of male and female work, ability toenter profitable jobsEquity of domestic duty loadCommunity acceptance of women workingCommunity attitudes on women’s sexual andreproductive roles women and workCommunity attitudes on women and violenceSex-disaggregated employment rates by sectorCommunity attitudes on what work women should do

Definition, Framework and Indicators 9Economic Advancement IndicatorsProductivityand SkillsBusinessPracticeIncomeConsumptionsmoothing/riskWorkenvironmentIndividual/Household LevelIndividual educational attainmentBusiness and work skillsAccess to productive tools and technologiesAccess to markets (as buyers and sellers)Access to jobsKeeps recordsSeparates personal and business expensesDiversity of product lineMarketing – takes advantage of market opportunities; isnot dependent on one or irregular buyers or suppliersInvests in businessLevels of income and revenueEarnings, profitsHas individual and household savingsHas a safe place to saveHas savings, insurance, or liquid assetsDoes not experience seasonal hungerDid not sell productive assetsWork site is safely accessible for womenWork site has separate toilet facility for womenWork hours, conditions, and remuneration meet internationallabor standardsCommunity/Institution LevelEducation available to and attained by girls and womenAdult learning opportunities availableFree entry to markets for buyers and sellersAccess to new technologiesEmployment practicesBarriers to entry to key jobs and marketsWorkplace policiesEarnings/growth at a firm or sector levelWomen as share of certain jobsCommunity resources and what percent are spenton womenCommunity has safe places to saveFormal or informal social safety netsLabor laws exist and are enforcedWage inequalityProsperity Individual and family wealth Economic status of women in communityHousing, property, assetsBetter health and nutritionWomen’s share of assets, business ownershipHealth and nutrition indices

10Understanding and Measuring Women’s Economic EmpowermentDavid Snyder/ICRWICRW currently advises a number of organizationson how to integrate these conceptsof women’s economic empowerment intotheir program and evaluation efforts.Specific projects that have informed theconcepts in this document include:• Results Based Initiatives (RBIs): Thisis a four-year program to economicallyempower women, commissioned by theWorld Bank as part of its Gender ActionPlan (GAP) in partnership with ICRW andUNIFEM. ICRW worked on the evaluationof five RBIs aimed at economically empoweringwomen in Peru, Egypt, Liberia,Kenya, Laos and Cambodia.• Personal Advancement and CareerEnhancement (P.A.C.E.): This programwas launched by Gap Inc. in partnershipwith several of its Asian sourcing companies,ICRW and Swasti, an India-basednonprofit organization. P.A.C.E. aims toadvance the personal and professionallives of female garment workers. ICRWhas provided strategic guidance on programdesign and rollout, and undertakenevaluation activities in India, Cambodiaand Vietnam.• Women’s Economic Opportunity Initiative(WEOI): ExxonMobil’s signatureinitiative, is aimed at advancing womeneconomically, especially by mobilizingtechnology, across a range of countries.ICRW has provided strategic guidance andevaluation expertise.• Framework for Women’s EconomicEmpowerment in South and SoutheastAsia: In this partnership with the U.K.Department for International Development(DFID), ICRW developed a framework foreconomic empowerment and tested howit fit existing projects in India, Bangladesh,Nepal, Cambodia and Laos.For more information about ICRW’s work andhow to partner with us, visit our website atwww.icrw.org.

Definition, Framework and IndicatorsAnjala Kanesathasan/ICRW

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