Network-Based Development Through a Non-Governmental Organization: A Case Study of Empowering Women in Rural India
Year: 2016
Type: dissertation
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: This thesis seeks to address whether formal and informal networks created amongst participants in a non-governmental organization (NGO) help to increase empowerment for marginalized women in rural northern India.Empowerment is discussed in terms of changes in mobility, decision-making ability, control over resources, labor patterns, and mental well-being.The approach to answering this question is twofold.Part one involves a social network analysis to determine the nature and extent of networks at ANKURI (Agency for Non Konventional Urban Rural Initiatives).Part two involves measuring levels of empowerment in the ANKURI community.My initial hypothesis predicts that women with more active participation, as measured by network centrality, will have an increased empowerment index, independent of age, education, or time spent at ANKURI.My findings suggest that ANKURI creates an environment for networking within the confines of the nonprofit.Furthermore, ANKURI has increased empowerment in the areas of mental well-being and decision making ability, but less so in areas of gendered labor patterns, mobility, and control over resources.Network centrality is weakly predictive of empowerment.Further analysis and discussion focuses on the sustainability, robustness, and practicality of ANKURI's approach to empowering women.
Author: Aubrey O'Neal
Language: English
Subfield: Economics and Econometrics
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2562471063