The impact of "goal setting" among remittance sender and recipients on savings
This intervention will align the financial goals of remittance senders and recipients, including the amount and frequency of remittances and savings. To this end, the BRAC Bank financial advisors will work with remittance senders and recipients and help them to set their financial goals (such as education expenses, medical expenses or business investment). After the goal setting, remittance senders and recipients will receive text message reminders about their goals. The study will fill the knowledge gap on the true impact of digital remittance innovations on the empowerment and financial resilience of beneficiarie.
Co- PIs: Dean Yang (University of Michigan) and Alexander Fertig (University of Michigan).
Status: Baseline survey and Implementation completed; Endline Survey: Q1 2024.
Type: Randomized control Trial (RCT)
This intervention will align the financial goals of remittance senders and recipients, including the amount and frequency of remittances and savings. To this end, the BRAC Bank financial advisors will work with remittance senders and recipients and help them to set their financial goals (such as education expenses, medical expenses or business investment). After the goal setting, remittance senders and recipients will receive text message reminders about their goals. The study will fill the knowledge gap on the true impact of digital remittance innovations on the empowerment and financial resilience of beneficiarie.
Co- PIs: Dean Yang (University of Michigan) and Alexander Fertig (University of Michigan).
Status: Baseline survey and Implementation completed; Endline Survey: Q1 2024.
Type: Randomized control Trial (RCT)
Enhancing resilience through livelihood and input support: a randomized controlled trial in forced displacement contexts of Bangladesh
We evaluate the effects of a multifaceted intervention providing skill training, business inputs, and market linkages on livelihood and mental outcomes of Forcibly Displaced Myanmar Nationals (FDMNs), living without rights to formal work and free movement in Bangladesh. Using a two-stage randomized design, we allocate skill training to half of the study participants in the first stage. In the second stage, we randomly deliver either a self-determined or a pre-fixed business input bundle to trained individuals to launch their business activities. The intervention addresses critical needs for sustainable livelihood options for displacement-affected populations to improve their economic resilience. This evidence-based approach seeks to inform context-specific, gender-sensitive, and pragmatic decisions for displaced populations globally.
Co- PIs: Asad Islam (Monash), Maria Cotofan (KCL), and Sutanuka Roy (ANU).
Status: Baseline survey completed; Endline Survey: Q1 2025.
Type: Randomized control Trial (RCT)
We evaluate the effects of a multifaceted intervention providing skill training, business inputs, and market linkages on livelihood and mental outcomes of Forcibly Displaced Myanmar Nationals (FDMNs), living without rights to formal work and free movement in Bangladesh. Using a two-stage randomized design, we allocate skill training to half of the study participants in the first stage. In the second stage, we randomly deliver either a self-determined or a pre-fixed business input bundle to trained individuals to launch their business activities. The intervention addresses critical needs for sustainable livelihood options for displacement-affected populations to improve their economic resilience. This evidence-based approach seeks to inform context-specific, gender-sensitive, and pragmatic decisions for displaced populations globally.
Co- PIs: Asad Islam (Monash), Maria Cotofan (KCL), and Sutanuka Roy (ANU).
Status: Baseline survey completed; Endline Survey: Q1 2025.
Type: Randomized control Trial (RCT)
Adaptation and Mitigation to Thrive: Breaking Chains of Climate Vulnerability of Small-scale Producers in Nepal
Agriculture and climate change share a complex relationship: agricultural activities emit greenhouse gases, while extreme weather events undermine production. This study evaluates the impact of a multifaceted intervention, merging training with financial support, on small-scale producers’ climate adaptation and mitigation practices, income, and resilience in Nepal. Using an exogenous variation in project rollout caused by the nationwide administrative restructuring, we show a significant increase in climate adoption and mitigation practices, income, and resilience among treated households. These results are primarily driven by improved access to training, enhanced social capital, increased production, and greater output market participation. These findings underscore the importance of targeted and locally tailored interventions to improve the livelihood of climate-vulnerable small-scale producers.
Co- PIs: Tisorn Songsermsawas, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).
Status: Data collection completed. Working paper: Draft available here.
Type: Quasi-experimental study.
Agriculture and climate change share a complex relationship: agricultural activities emit greenhouse gases, while extreme weather events undermine production. This study evaluates the impact of a multifaceted intervention, merging training with financial support, on small-scale producers’ climate adaptation and mitigation practices, income, and resilience in Nepal. Using an exogenous variation in project rollout caused by the nationwide administrative restructuring, we show a significant increase in climate adoption and mitigation practices, income, and resilience among treated households. These results are primarily driven by improved access to training, enhanced social capital, increased production, and greater output market participation. These findings underscore the importance of targeted and locally tailored interventions to improve the livelihood of climate-vulnerable small-scale producers.
Co- PIs: Tisorn Songsermsawas, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).
Status: Data collection completed. Working paper: Draft available here.
Type: Quasi-experimental study.
Information and Infrastructure to Boost Market Access and Livelihoods of Small-scale Producers Market access opens up opportunities for technology adoption, productivity gains, and welfare improvement. Yet, market participation is less than a quarter for small-scale producers in developing countries. This study examines the impacts of an integrated value chain development project that delivered training and developed rural infrastructure to facilitate market participation of small-scale producers from the indigenous communities in the Highlands of the Philippines. Results indicate that the intervention increased market participation and income for the treatment households, with significant variation depending on the degree of remoteness. Findings highlight the need for target support for those living in more remote areas so that they can harness benefits from improved market access. Co- PIs: Vibhuti Mendiratta, IFAD. Athur Mabiso, IFAD. Tisorn Songsermsawas, IFAD. Status: Data collection completed. Working paper: Draft available here. Type: Quasi-experimental study |
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