Is Empowering Women in Agricultural Development Projects Worth the Investment? Yes, When Done Right

May 2, 2019 | Agnes Quisumbing, Joao Montalvao, and Markus Goldstein
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A recent article in Inside Philanthropy has a provocative title: “Top Funders and NGOs Think Empowering Women Farmers Can Reduce Hunger. Are They Right?” The article reviews the evidence used by NGOs and donors to justify funding programs on women’s empowerment to achieve other development outcomes, such as increased agricultural productivity or improved nutrition, and finds it unconvincing.

The article notes that much of the research cited in support of women’s empowerment consists of associational studies, the evidence on agricultural productivity is mixed, and there are still relatively few studies that definitively establish causal relationships. Nevertheless, it adds, NGO officials, as well as the wider development community, agree that empowering women is important in itself, even if it may not help achieve other outcomes. The article ends by saying that absence of evidence is not evidence of absence and urges NGOs to evaluate their programs rigorously.