FINAL IMPACT EVALUATION OF THE SAVING FOR CHANGE PROGRAM IN MALI, 2009‐2012 Malian women living in the study area. Photograph by Sarah Custer. Submitted by: Bureau of Applied Research in Anthropology, University of Arizona Innovations for Poverty Action Commissioned by Oxfam America and Freedom from Hunger Funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation April 3, 2013 TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF TABLES ................................................................................................................................................... 5 LIST OF FIGURES ................................................................................................................................................. 7 LIST OF ACRONYMS ............................................................................................................................................ 8 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ...................................................................................................................................... 10 1. Program Background .......................................................................................................................................... 10 2. Research Objectives and Methodology .............................................................................................................. 11 Quantitative methodology (IPA) ........................................................................................................................ 12 Qualitative Methodology (BARA) ....................................................................................................................... 12 3. Summary of Overall Findings .............................................................................................................................. 13 4. Recommendations .............................................................................................................................................. 15 Structured replication ........................................................................................................................................ 15 Expanding on the SfC platform .......................................................................................................................... 16 Revisions to program monitoring and evaluation .............................................................................................. 16 5. Report Structure ................................................................................................................................................. 17 I. INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................................................. 18 1. Background on the Saving for Change program ................................................................................................. 18 2. Research methodology overview ....................................................................................................................... 22 II. SUMMARY OF QUANTITATIVE FINDINGS (INNOVATIONS for POVERTY ACTION) ............................................ 27 1. Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................ 27 Research questions ............................................................................................................................................ 27 Participation .................................................................................................................................................. 27 Impact ........................................................................................................................................................... 27 Replication ..................................................................................................................................................... 28 Design and sample information ......................................................................................................................... 28 Background research ..................................................................................................................................... 29 Quantitative evaluation methodology .......................................................................................................... 29 Data Collection ................................................................................................................................................... 32 2. Baseline descriptive statistics and balance check ............................................................................................... 35 Balance check ..................................................................................................................................................... 35 Descriptive Statistics .......................................................................................................................................... 36 3. Adoption ............................................................................................................................................................. 38 Adoption rates ................................................................................................................................................... 38 Characteristics of adopters ................................................................................................................................ 40 Adopters vs non‐adopters ............................................................................................................................. 40 Early vs. late adopters ................................................................................................................................... 43 1 4. Use of SfC ............................................................................................................................................................ 44 Share‐outs .......................................................................................................................................................... 45 Loans .................................................................................................................................................................. 45 5. Impacts of SfC ..................................................................................................................................................... 47 Empirical strategy .............................................................................................................................................. 47 Financial Management ....................................................................................................................................... 48 Health, shocks and food security ....................................................................................................................... 50 Health expenses............................................................................................................................................. 50 Shocks ............................................................................................................................................................ 50 Food security ................................................................................................................................................. 51 Malaria ............................................................................................................................................................... 52 Investment and economic activities .................................................................................................................. 53 Education ....................................................................................................................................................... 53 Businesses ...................................................................................................................................................... 54 Agriculture ..................................................................................................................................................... 55 Livestock ........................................................................................................................................................ 55 Housing .......................................................................................................................................................... 57 Paid Labor ...................................................................................................................................................... 57 Social capital ...................................................................................................................................................... 58 Female Decision‐making Power ......................................................................................................................... 58 Consumption and poverty ................................................................................................................................. 59 Heterogeneity .................................................................................................................................................... 60 Household Type ............................................................................................................................................