The study presents the findings of a qualitative evaluation of a women education program in Chiapas, implemented by the Mexican
microfinance Ngo, Alternativa Solidaria (AlSol). The paper tries to assess the effects of the intervention on women’s income and household’s living standards, women’s empowerment and mobility, women’s and children’s
health conditions and confidence in modern health posts, as well as children’s primary and secondary school enrollment. In the last section I moreover try to explore which participants’ or implementation characteristics positively influence women’s performance in the program. The experimental design is based on cross sectional data on program beneficiaries and non beneficiaries. Propensity score matching was applied to available baseline data to reduce observable pre-program differences between treatment and control groups. Results suggest that the program has a positive and significant impact on women’s income,although no immediate repercussion on the household living standard is detected. Similarly, women’s probability of participating in intrahousehold decision making augments in 4 out of 9 analyzed cases. Probably due to a potential bias in wellbeing perceptions of more educated women, the outcome on individuals’ health conditions remains ambiguous, whereas the utilization of modern health providers and the probability of children’s school enrollment increase through treatment participation. Finally, less remote areas, smaller microfinance groups and women dealing with higher loan amounts are associated with better exam test scores. The findings may have useful implications on AlSol’s program implementation and future expansion plans.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- 1. Introduction
- 2. Backgrounds and Literature Review
- 2.1. Mexico and Chiapas: recent economic trends
- 2.2. Alternativa Solidaria Chiapas (AlSol): geographical and operating aspects
- 2.3. Literature review and discussion of potential education program impacts
- 3. Experimental Design and Data
- 3.1. Data collection and group definitions
- 3.2. Control group adjustment: propensity score matching
- 3.3. Data and variables' description
- 4. Empirical Results
- 4.1. Women's income and household's poverty
- 4.2. Women's and children's health issues
- 4.3. Women's empowerment within the household: decision making & mobility
- 4.4. Children's schooling patterns
- 4.5. Women's, centre's and area characteristics' impact on exam performance
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This study aims to evaluate the impact of a microfinance and education program implemented by Alternativa Solidaria Chiapas (AlSol) on the lives of women in Chiapas, Mexico. The research utilizes a robust experimental design and data analysis to assess various outcomes.
- Impact of microfinance on women's income and household poverty.
- Effects of the education program on women's empowerment and decision-making.
- Influence of the program on women's and children's health.
- Correlation between program participation and children's schooling outcomes.
- Analysis of factors contributing to successful program outcomes.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
Chapter 1: Introduction introduces Dominga Mendez Gomez, a participant in AlSol's program, to illustrate the program's impact. It sets the stage for the study.
Chapter 2: Backgrounds and Literature Review provides context by discussing the economic situation in Mexico and Chiapas, AlSol's operations, and existing literature on the potential effects of similar education programs.
Chapter 3: Experimental Design and Data details the research methodology, including data collection methods, group definitions, and statistical techniques used for analysis, specifically propensity score matching.
Chapter 4: Empirical Results (Partial Summary) This chapter presents findings related to women's income, household poverty, women's and children's health, women's empowerment, and children's schooling. Specific details of the findings are omitted to avoid spoilers.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Microfinance, education programs, women's empowerment, poverty reduction, Chiapas, Mexico, AlSol, experimental evaluation, propensity score matching, health outcomes, children's education, impact evaluation.
- Quote paper
- Monica Schuster (Author), 2008, The Effects of Adult Women Education - Impact Evaluation of a Program in Chiapas, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/120098
