Economics

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For Community-Driven Development, Mobilization Matters: The impact of mobilization messages on Self-Help Group performance in a community-driven development intervention in rural India
(2015) Banerji, Robindra; Owens, David M.
As the rate of investment in community-driven development (CDD) increases (totaling $85 billion as of 2013 from the World Bank alone), it is increasingly important to understand the causes of its successes and failures. This project examines the role of mobilizers: specifically, how does a mobilizer encourage active buy-in from potential beneficiaries? Using cross-sectional survey data from Jeevika, a women’s empowerment, antipoverty, and rural livelihoods intervention in Bihar, India, I find that CRPs (Community Resource Persons), poor, female leaders in Jeevika, are the most effective in encouraging participation among potential beneficiaries, due to their high levels of social capital. I additionally find that sharing abstract positive messages such as “Jeevika will help you get out of poverty” and “Jeevika will bring you together as one” crowds out intrinsic motivation stemming from social capital and reduces participation.