Cash Transfers and Intimate Partner Violence: Case studies from Ethiopia and Ghana

A growing evidence base demonstrates that cash transfer programs, primarily meant to address poverty and vulnerability, are promising interventions to reduce intimate partner violence. However, knowledge gaps remain on whether findings generalize across program designs, as well as what mechanisms underlie impacts.

This webinar will present results from two case studies in Ghana and Ethiopia that draw upon qualitative research of national cash transfer programs combined with complementary programming. Both studies examine pathways of influence with consideration of contextual factors such as gender norms, household dynamics, and the role of “plus” programming.

Introduction and opening remarks:

Frank Place, Director, CGIAR Research Program on Policies, Institutions, and Markets (PIM) IFPRI

Lori Heise, Professor, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

Presentations:

Ethiopia case study: “Government of Ethiopia’s public works and complementary programmes: a mixed-methods study on pathways to reduce intimate partner violence” (Meghna Ranganathan, Assistant Professor, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine)

Ghana case study: “Assessing pathways of impact of the LEAP 1000 cash transfer program on Intimate Partner Violence” (Clare Barrington, Associate Professor, University of North Carolina Gillings School of Global Public Health).

Panel discussion: Implications of Findings for Policy and Practice

Tseday Amare, Gender, Youth and Social Dynamics Lead, CARE Ethiopia

Christiana Gbedemah, Social Policy Specialist, UNICEF Ghana

Q&A Moderator:

Melissa Hidrobo, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI