Donations to GiveDirectly put power in the hands of recipients, 62% of whom are women.1 On International Women’s Day, hear directly from women and girls in poverty in Malawi about the unique ways that direct cash empowers them:
This impact is more than anecdotal; research finds that cash aid lets women improve their lives in many ways. Below, we break down the evidence by story.
Maternal & infant health
Lenita – “When I was pregnant, I would fall sick [and] could not afford the fare to go to the hospital.”
Studies find that cash can:
- Increase the use of health facilities.2
- Improve birth weight and infant mortality3 – one study found GiveDirectly’s program reduced child mortality by ~70% and improved child growth.4
Education & domestic violence
Agatha – “My husband was so abusive… so I left him and went back to try to finish school.”
Studies find that cash can:
- Reduce incidents of physical abuse by a male partner of a woman2 – one study found GiveDirectly’s program reduced physical intimate partner violence.5
- Increase school attendance for girls.1
Decision-making power
Beatrice – “My husband and I always argued… about how to spend what little money we had. Now, when we receive the money, we plan together.”
Studies find that cash can:
- Increase a woman’s likelihood of being the sole or joint decision-maker.2
Entrepreneurship & savings
Anesi – “With the businesses I started, I want to buy land for my children so they will never forget me.”
Studies find that cash can:
- Increase entrepreneurship2 – one study of GiveDirectly’s program found new business creation doubled.6 For more on female entrepreneurs, watch→
- Increase the number of families saving and the amount they saved2 – one study of GiveDirectly’s program found women doubled their savings.6 To learn about women’s savings groups, watch→
Elderly support
Faidesi – “Now that I am old, I can’t farm and often sleep hungry. I would have been dead if it wasn’t for these payments.”
Studies find that cash can:
- Reduce the likelihood of having had an illness in the last three months7 – one study in Tanzania found cash reduced the number of doctor visits made by women over 60.8
Footnotes
- The majority of recipients are women because our biggest program (large transfers) allows families to select a single head of household to receive the funds. Women often handle household spending so are slightly over-represented as the recipient in this program. Also we run a few specialty programs that are explicitly targeting women (e.g. this nutrition program or this cancer program)
- Bastagli et al 2016
- Siddiqi et al 2018
- McIntosh & Zeitlin 2018
- Haushofer et al 2019
- McIntosh & Zeitlin 2020
- Pega et al 2017
- Evans et al 2014