Gender-inclusive governance of “self-help” groups in rural Kenya

There is vast literature on groups as a useful mechanism for rural development, especially for women. However, for group participation to fulfil on potential benefits to women, gender-specific constraints must be addressed. This study examines how to promote gender-inclusive governance of mixed-sex...

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Main Authors: Aberman, Noora-Lisa, Birner, Regina, Odoyo, Elizabeth Auma Okiri, Oyunga, Mary Anyango, Okoba, Barrack, Okello, George Otiep
Format: Artículo preliminar
Language:Inglés
Published: International Food Policy Research Institute 2020
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/143572
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author Aberman, Noora-Lisa
Birner, Regina
Odoyo, Elizabeth Auma Okiri
Oyunga, Mary Anyango
Okoba, Barrack
Okello, George Otiep
author_browse Aberman, Noora-Lisa
Birner, Regina
Odoyo, Elizabeth Auma Okiri
Okello, George Otiep
Okoba, Barrack
Oyunga, Mary Anyango
author_facet Aberman, Noora-Lisa
Birner, Regina
Odoyo, Elizabeth Auma Okiri
Oyunga, Mary Anyango
Okoba, Barrack
Okello, George Otiep
author_sort Aberman, Noora-Lisa
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description There is vast literature on groups as a useful mechanism for rural development, especially for women. However, for group participation to fulfil on potential benefits to women, gender-specific constraints must be addressed. This study examines how to promote gender-inclusive governance of mixed-sex self-help groups in the African context, analysing twenty mixed-sex focus group discussions with 190 group members in rural western Kenya. Emphasizing group member perceptions and beliefs about participation and governance, we undertake an empirical assessment of institutional factors that explain and facilitate effective participation of female members. We find that group-member endowments impact the group’s interpretation in terms of their understanding of gender issues and political processes, and that the pro-gender intentions behind governance structures are more important than the structures themselves. Furthermore, groups in this context serve as a distinct parallel institution to that of the home that enable them to push the boundaries of community gender norms.
format Artículo preliminar
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institution CGIAR Consortium
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publishDate 2020
publishDateRange 2020
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spelling CGSpace1435722025-12-02T21:03:24Z Gender-inclusive governance of “self-help” groups in rural Kenya Aberman, Noora-Lisa Birner, Regina Odoyo, Elizabeth Auma Okiri Oyunga, Mary Anyango Okoba, Barrack Okello, George Otiep gender social behaviour group approaches self-help capacity development institutions inclusion rural areas governance There is vast literature on groups as a useful mechanism for rural development, especially for women. However, for group participation to fulfil on potential benefits to women, gender-specific constraints must be addressed. This study examines how to promote gender-inclusive governance of mixed-sex self-help groups in the African context, analysing twenty mixed-sex focus group discussions with 190 group members in rural western Kenya. Emphasizing group member perceptions and beliefs about participation and governance, we undertake an empirical assessment of institutional factors that explain and facilitate effective participation of female members. We find that group-member endowments impact the group’s interpretation in terms of their understanding of gender issues and political processes, and that the pro-gender intentions behind governance structures are more important than the structures themselves. Furthermore, groups in this context serve as a distinct parallel institution to that of the home that enable them to push the boundaries of community gender norms. 2020-12-01 2024-05-22T12:15:16Z 2024-05-22T12:15:16Z Working Paper https://hdl.handle.net/10568/143572 en https://hdl.handle.net/10568/150518 https://hdl.handle.net/10568/151222 https://hdl.handle.net/10568/151427 Open Access application/pdf International Food Policy Research Institute Aberman, Noora-Lisa; Birner, Regina; Odoyo, Elizabeth Auma Okiri; Oyunga, Mary Anyango; Okoba, Barrack; and Okello, George Otiep. 2020. Gender-inclusive governance of “self-help” groups in rural Kenya. IFPRI Discussion Paper 1986. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). https://doi.org/10.2499/p15738coll2.134214.
spellingShingle gender
social behaviour
group approaches
self-help
capacity development
institutions
inclusion
rural areas
governance
Aberman, Noora-Lisa
Birner, Regina
Odoyo, Elizabeth Auma Okiri
Oyunga, Mary Anyango
Okoba, Barrack
Okello, George Otiep
Gender-inclusive governance of “self-help” groups in rural Kenya
title Gender-inclusive governance of “self-help” groups in rural Kenya
title_full Gender-inclusive governance of “self-help” groups in rural Kenya
title_fullStr Gender-inclusive governance of “self-help” groups in rural Kenya
title_full_unstemmed Gender-inclusive governance of “self-help” groups in rural Kenya
title_short Gender-inclusive governance of “self-help” groups in rural Kenya
title_sort gender inclusive governance of self help groups in rural kenya
topic gender
social behaviour
group approaches
self-help
capacity development
institutions
inclusion
rural areas
governance
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/143572
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AT odoyoelizabethaumaokiri genderinclusivegovernanceofselfhelpgroupsinruralkenya
AT oyungamaryanyango genderinclusivegovernanceofselfhelpgroupsinruralkenya
AT okobabarrack genderinclusivegovernanceofselfhelpgroupsinruralkenya
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