Indexing financial empowerment for women in India

IntroductionUnderstanding community women's relational and financial empowerment in social entrepreneurship could be the key to scaling up community-based human papillomavirus (HPV) self-sampling programs in low- and middle-income countries. The Hope Project, social entrepreneurship in Peru, trains women (Hope Ladies) to promote HPV self-sampling among other women in their communities. This study aims to evaluate the Hope Ladies' relational and financial empowerment after participating in the program.Materials and MethodsWe evaluated the Hope Ladies' experiences of empowerment in social entrepreneurship using a parallel convergent mixed methods design. The Hope Ladies participated in semi-structured in-depth interviews (n = 20) and an eight-questions five-point Likert scale survey that evaluated their relational (n = 19)/financial (n = 17) empowerment. The interview and the survey questions were developed using three empowerment frameworks: Kabeer's conceptual framework, International Center for Research on Women's economic empowerment indicators, and the Relational Leadership Theory. Deductive content analysis was used to evaluate the interviews with pre-determined codes and categories of empowerment. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the survey results. Qualitative and quantitative data were integrated through a cross-case comparison of emergent themes and corresponding survey responses during the results interpretation.ResultsAll Hope Ladies reported experiencing increased empowerment in social entrepreneurship. Interviews: The women reported challenges and improvement in three categories of empowerment: (1) resources (balancing between household and Hope Lady roles, recognition from the community as a resource, camaraderie with other Hope Ladies); (2) agency (increased knowledge about reproductive health, improved confidence to express themselves, and ability to speak out against male-dominant culture); and (3) achievement (increased economic assets, improved ability to make financial decisions, and widened social network and capital, and technology skills development). Survey: All (100%) agreed/totally agreed an increase in social contacts, increased unaccompanied visits to a healthcare provider (86%), improved confidence in discussing reproductive topics (100%), improved ability to make household decisions about money (57% pre-intervention vs. 92% post-intervention).ConclusionsThe Hope Ladies reported improved relational and financial empowerment through participating in community-based social entrepreneurship. Future studies are needed to elucidate the relationship between empowerment and worker retention/performance to inform the scale-up of HPV self-sampling social entrepreneurship programs.

PurposeWomen's financial empowerment (WFE) is one of the sustainable development goals. This research examines the effect of financial inclusion through FinTech (FIF) on WFE at the international level. The purpose of this paper is to address this issue.Design/methodology/approachThe authors analyze the dataset of 113 countries from the Global Findex (2017) and World Bank databases using principal component analysis (PCA) and cross-sectional data methodology. Initially, they calculate the overall index for FIF with PCA. Then, they investigate the effect of FIF on WFE in two groups of countries classified by low and high levels of gender discrimination.FindingsThe results show that the relationship between FIF and WFE is positive and significant in countries classified by low levels of gender discrimination. However, this effect is insignificant in countries with high gender discrimination. Hence, gender inequality is a barrier and denies financial independence to women.Research limitations/implicationsGiven these results, it seems unlikely that FinTech will be able to eliminate the gender gap in financial inclusion on its own for women's empowerment. To directly address the gender gap and alter attitudes and social norms across demographics, FinTech development may need to be supplemented with focused policy initiatives.Originality/valueThis study provides evidence of FIF's impact on WFE at the international level.

Since the 1980s, the gender gap in most countries—rich and developing—has been narrowing. Women and girls are going to school more, living longer, getting better jobs, and acquiring legal rights and protections. Despite these strides, women in poor rural communities remain financially excluded from formal financial services. This chapter explores the impact of mobile banking on financial inclusion and women's empowerment in Kenya. The aim is to evaluate whether mobile banking is a form of financial inclusion and women's financial empowerment in Kenya. Firstly, it gives a clear background of a form of mobile banking in Kenya locally called M-PESA. Secondly, it evaluates how M-PESA is a form financial inclusion. Thirdly, it examines if M-PESA is a form of financial empowerment for women and girls in Kenya and lastly, offers recommendations on how M-PESA can effectively become a mode of financial inclusion and women's empowerment in Kenya.

Kudumbashree is a community-based organisation founded by Keralan women's Neighbourhood Groups (NHGs). It has been acknowledged as a fundamental strategy for empowering women in rural and urban settings, bringing together women from all walks of life to compete for their rights and empowerment. The Prime Minister, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee, officially opened it on May 17, 1998. Kudumbashree's motto was to eradicate total poverty within ten years, and women's financial empowerment followed it. Numerous schemes, convergence programmes, and income-generating activities are underway with this goal in mind. The ability to make decisions for oneself is the simplest definition of empowerment. Economic growth alone will not be enough to achieve complete empowerment; social, political, and personal empowerment are all crucial. Kudumbashree members are required to participate in all aspects of empowerment. Thus, this is an attempt to assess the degree of women's empowerment in Kudumbashree and its members' economic, social, political, and personal empowerment. The study used a survey approach, and 120 samples were gathered using purposive sampling. An empowerment scale, which was taken from Ajantha Parameswari's (2014) Ph.D. thesis, was also used to gauge the degree of empowerment. SPSS software was used to analyse the data. The study concluded that Kudumbashree is the most well-known initiative for advancing Keralan women in rural and urban areas. Other Indian states could adopt the Kudumbashree as a model for women's empowerment domestically and abroad.

This study investigates the impact of microfinance on women in Bengaluru, with a particular focus on how access to financial services influences their economic independence, healthcare, education, and participation in household decision-making. Drawing on data collected from female beneficiaries across a range of microfinance institutions, the research provides a comprehensive analysis of both the opportunities and challenges associated with microfinance programs. The findings indicate that microfinance has played a significant role in promoting women's financial empowerment and autonomy. However, the study also identifies persistent barriers—including high interest rates, limited financial literacy, and entrenched social and cultural norms—that continue to hinder the full realization of these benefits. The study concludes by emphasizing the importance of more inclusive and context-sensitive strategies to enhance the effectiveness of microfinance as a tool for women's empowerment in India. Key words: Microfinance, Women Financial Empowerment, lack of financial Literacy

Purpose: This study intends to determine whether family businesses empower women, encourage their entrepreneurship, and enable them to become fully engaged in activities that generate finances by allowing them to select their own business idea. Methodology: Empowering women is crucial for accelerating economic and financial progress. The question of the economic empowerment of women is of utmost importance to political philosophers, social scientists, and reformers because it is currently thought of as a sine qua non of progress for a nation. This study examines the relationship between women's financial empowerment, business, and the home using data from the 2017–18 Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey (PDHS). For this, we employed binary logistic regression. Findings: Women who are educated and have a job are more empowered than women who are not employed. Furthermore, economic and financial development cannot occur without the advancement of women. Women should be taught technical knowledge and marketing strategies and empowered to develop their skills to create more sustainable businesses. Contribution to literature: This study contributes to the literature in two ways: First, this study utilized the fertility variable which was not utilized in earlier studies. Second, this study identified the women empowerment factors by using four different indicators.

PurposeThis study aims to propose a model to elevate the financial empowerment of Muslim women by rejuvenating the practice of Mahr in society and facilitating the affordability of men to pay that Mahr amount.Design/methodology/approachThe approach of this study is to offer a model through the interest-free savings-based finance concept. The model comprises four stages; each stage of the model is mathematically formulated and graphically explained to ensure clarity and coherence. To further investigate the issue, the authors use a convenient sampling method to ask a small sample size of respondents (women) from different countries about their financial contribution and empowerment in the family.FindingsThis model enables women to turn their exclusive financial right into a source of earning without borrowing from any source or paying interest on the principal amount. Besides, it encourages accelerating men’s obligation to pay the Mahr to the women immediately during the marriage ceremony by facilitating men’s affordability. Almost 45% of respondents state that a woman’s financial contribution exalts her decision-making power and strengthens her financial position in the family.Social implicationsThe authors attempt to revitalize Mahr practice in Muslim society to accelerate the process of receiving a woman’s exclusive financial right and empower a family as a whole through the Mahr model.Originality/valueConsidering the model’s uniqueness, the developed and proposed Mahr model in this research is novel; to the best of the authors’ knowledge, no other study has been conducted and developed such a model using the Mahr concept.

The current narrative of Western Liberal Feminism is strongly built upon the financial independence of women. Some even call it ‘Financial Empowerment’. In fact, this is only one aspect of women empowerment. The history of Islamic world reveals that Islam initiated its own version of empowerment of women through the Holy Quran. From its inception, Islam marks it mandatory upon every member of Islamic society to seek knowledge. Since the advent of Islam till today, female Muslim scholars, from around the globe, have been consistently contributing to the realm of Islamic knowledge. Starting from Hazrat Aisha (May Allah be pleased with her) as the very first prominent female Muslim scholar till date, countless female scholars have emerged on the horizons of Islamic scholarship, making their valuable contributions to women empowerment. It is argued that throughout the Islamic history, women have shared their intellect, caliber, enthusiasm and wisdom, enriching the heritage of Islamic scholarship. Till date, one can find the examples of such empowered women in Islamic world who are contributing to shape their societies. They were not financially independent by the time when they embarked upon their respective journeys. This is to problematize here that female financial independence is only one angle of women empowerment. Islam bestows upon a novel dimension to women empowerment. This is empowerment through the Holy Qur’ān. The knowledge, wisdom and intellectualism acquired through the Qur’ān truly empowered women in Islamic history and continues to this date. Female Muslim scholars are using that intellect and wisdom and very actively shaping the course of history alongside the opposite gender - men. Dr. Farhat Nasim Hashmi is amongst one of such scholars of the contemporary Islamic world. Her services for spreading the teachings of the Holy Quran not only transcended the borders of her native country; rather it became a global wave and a positive paradigm shift in the teachings of Islam when her brainchild ‘Al-Huda International’ was founded. We posit that she is an epitome of women empowerment, and this didn’t stem from financial independency but is deeply rooted in the education of the Holy Qur’ān. Moreover, she has made countless woman empowered through intellectualization achieved through the Holy Book. The paper also examines the process of transfer of empowerment through analysis of her Islamic School System. Moreover, it includes results of an analysis of interviews conducted from women, all of which supports the view that their empowerment does not lie in being financially independent but in gaining wisdom through the Holy Quran.

PurposeFinancial inclusion is widely promoted as a tool for empowering women, yet its actual effectiveness in achieving this goal remains unclear. This study addresses this critical gap by investigating whether increased access to financial services translates into genuine financial empowerment for women.Design/methodology/approachThe study employs nationally representative survey data from India, covering over 23,700 women. Statistical analyses such as ordinary least squares regression, coarsened exact matching, propensity score matching, instrumental variable regression and mediation analysis were conducted to assess the relationship between financial inclusion and women’s financial empowerment.FindingsThe results indicate that financial inclusion significantly enhances the financial empowerment status of women. This empowerment manifests in various dimensions, including enhancement in resource endowments and financial agency reflecting the transformative potential of financial inclusion initiatives. The results also imply that the relationship between women’s financial inclusion and financial empowerment is partially mediated by active banking behaviour.Practical implicationsThe findings underscore the importance of fostering financial inclusion to empower women economically, offering policymakers actionable insights to design gender-sensitive financial policies and programs.Social implicationsImproved financial inclusion among women can drive broader societal benefits, including greater gender equity and enhanced economic development. It highlights the role of financial inclusion as a tool for social transformation in developing countries.Originality/valueThis study contributes original empirical evidence to the discourse on financial inclusion and women’s financial empowerment in developing countries, providing a robust basis for informed policy formulation.

The current discussion on development emphasises the importance of empowering marginalised people in order to alleviate socioeconomic inequities and promote inclusive growth. This study aims to explore the financial empowerment of indigenous women, evaluating the complex relationship between economic justice programmes and sustainable approaches to achieve inclusive development. In this context, the research aims to explore the many aspects of financial empowerment programmes specifically designed for tribal women. Its goal is to contribute to the continuing discussion on promoting economic equality and long-term social change. This inquiry aims to examine the complex processes of financial inclusion and highlight the possibility for enabling indigenous women to achieve economic justice. By doing so, it envisions a future that is more egalitarian and resilient for these communities. In the backdrop of India's developmental discourse, this study delves into the imperative realm of financial empowerment for tribal women. Focused on unravelling the intricate relationship between economic justice initiatives and sustainable pathways toward inclusive development, our research aims to shed light on the challenges hindering the financial autonomy of indigenous women. Our investigation centers on the nuanced landscape of financial empowerment programs tailored specifically for tribal women, seeking to contribute substantively to the ongoing dialogue on economic equality and enduring societal transformation. By navigating the complexities of financial inclusion processes, our inquiry envisions a future where indigenous women not only achieve economic justice but also actively participate in reshaping a more equitable and resilient society. It is identified that to demolish patriarchal systems, there are need to expand educational possibilities, close income gaps, promote financial literacy, and combat prejudiced cultural viewpoints. Further, targeted interventions include microfinance programs, village savings and loans, direct cash transfers, and government schemes. Collective efforts from governmental, non-governmental, and community stakeholders are needed to create a more egalitarian society that empowers tribal women economically, socially, psychologically, and politically

Illiteracy should not be equated with ignorance nor should literacy be seen as determining the acquisition of personal power or the attainment of national development. Yet, the ability to write and read in an increasingly technological society is a fundamental need. For those groups that find themselves missing out in the benefits of both modernization and democratization-particularly rural populations, ethnic minorities, and women-literacy constitutes an essential tool in their efforts to gain legal and socioeconomic rights. The proportion of illiterates in the world population, be they men or women, is steadily decreasing, and each new generation has more education than the preceding one. With today's large population, however, the absolute numbers of illiterates are overwhelming. Unesco projects that by the year 2000-a mere 10 years from now-there will be one billion illiterates. While there are differences in the national definitions of literacy and the degree of accuracy measuring it, there is agreement that the statistics underestimate actual illiteracy conditions. Except for a few countries (particularly Jamaica and Lesotho), women have lower levels of literacy than men; in developing countries this disparity averages a 21 percent difference.' Moreover, according to Unesco reports, the proportion of illiterate women is increasing. In 1960, 58 percent of the adult illiterates were women, by 1970 this proportion had increased to 60 percent, and by 1985 it reached 63 percent. In 43 of the 85 developing countries, 50 percent or more of the female adults are illiterate. Illiterate women are numerous in India, China, and sub-Saharan Africa. Female illiteracy in 1985 was 19 percent in Latin America and the Caribbean, 47 percent in Asia, and 65 percent in Africa.2 The comparison of literacy statistics from 1960 to 1985 reveals that, of the 154 million new illiterates during that period, 133 million were women. The greatest numerical increase was in Asia, where the population of illiterates grew by 109 million. In Africa the absolute increase was smaller due to its smaller population, but the rate of increase was the largest as the number of illiterate women rose by 44 percent, from 68 to

Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) is recognized as a critical tool in the developmental agenda of emerging economies. According to UNESCO (2012), it fosters women's empowerment and promotes literacy, thus contributing significantly to national development. This study aimed to examine the acquisition of TVET by Nigerian females and assess its impact on individual empowerment and the broader national economy. Primary data were collected from 118 female graduates across 90 TVET institutions in Nigeria. The analysis focused on academic performance, practical skill acumen (PSA), empowerment outcomes, employment status, and contributions to economic development. Findings showed that most respondents achieved strong academic performance and exhibited high levels of PSA in their areas of specialization, indicating a significant contribution of TVET to the quality of female human capital. Employment analysis revealed that a large proportion of the graduates secured gainful employment with potential for career advancement. However, financial empowerment among the graduates was limited. The study also identified significant contributions to economic growth through job creation and revenue generation, alongside a notable correlation between empowerment and job creation. It also averred that female participation in TVET contributes positively to workforce development, socio-economic advancement, and job creation in Nigeria. Despite challenges in financial empowerment, the study underscores the essential role of TVET in achieving sustainable development through gender-inclusive education and economic engagement.

We evaluate the medium-term impacts of treating maternal depression on women’s financial empowerment and parenting decisions. We leverage experimental variation induced by a cluster-randomized control trial that provided psychotherapy to perinatally depressed mothers in rural Pakistan. It was one of the largest psychotherapy interventions in the world and highly successful at reducing depression. We locate mothers seven years after the end of the intervention to evaluate its longer run effects. We find that the intervention improved women’s financial empowerment, increasing their control over household spending. Additionally, the intervention increased both time- and monetary-intensive parental investments.

This study examines the relationship between financial literacy (FL) Green Microfinance (GM) and Women’s Empowerment (WE). Alongside its economic and social implications, microfinance has adapted to address expanding demands by integrating environmental factors, resulting in the emergence of GM and WE. The connection between the empowerment of women and green microfinance is partly influenced by their level of FL. The findings highlight the significance of prioritizing financial strategies in Tunisia to promote policies that support women's empowerment, to fight poverty and environmental sustainability.

Background. This research addresses the intersection of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and women’s empowerment in Afghanistan, aligning with global initiatives and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The study aims to provide nuanced insights into the multifaceted impact of ICT on financial independence, economic empowerment, and health outcomes among Afghan women. Purpose. The research employs a purposive sampling method, involving 170 participants from diverse regions in Afghanistan to ensure representation from areas with varying socio-economic and cultural characteristics. Through a mixed-methods approach, including structured surveys and qualitative analysis, the study seeks to understand the perceptions of ICT and its experiences with women’s empowerment. Method. Structured surveys cover demographics, ICT perceptions, and women’s empowerment experiences. Qualitative data undergo thematic analysis, while quantitative analysis utilizes statistical methods such as ANOVA, logistic regression, chi-square tests, binomial tests, and descriptive statistics. Results. The findings underscore a consensus among participants on the positive impact of ICT, particularly on financial independence, economic empowerment, and health outcomes. Associations between telemedicine, digital health, and improved women’s health are identified. Binomial tests highlight success in bridging the digital gender gap and enhancing awareness. Positive perceptions of social media, online communities, and digital advocacy in promoting gender equality are revealed through descriptive statistics. Conclusion. This study contributes novel insights by comprehensively examining the impact of ICT on women’s empowerment in Afghanistan, covering diverse dimensions such as financial independence, economic empowerment, and health outcomes. The robust mixed-methods approach yields unique findings that enrich the existing literature on ICT and women’s empowerment.