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NORGLOBAL2-Norge - global partner

Poverty reduction, norms, and vulnerability to gender-based violence: Assessing causal relations and mechanisms

Alternative title: Fattigdomsreduksjon, normer og utsatthet for kjønnsbasert vold: En studie av kausalitet

Awarded: NOK 9.0 mill.

Project Manager:

Project Number:

324885

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Project Period:

2021 - 2025

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Partner countries:

Gender-based violence (GBV) is an enormous problem across the world, but poorer countries are more affected. Intimate partner violence (IPV), the most common form of GBV, affects 20 % of women in Western Europe but almost the double (37%) in Africa. Research estimating the global cost of IPV finds that it amounts to more than 5 % of World GDP. In Sub-Saharan Africa, the cost is 15 % of the regional GDP. Other types of GBV, such as female genital cutting (FGM), are also widespread: At least 200 million girls and women, mostly in low-income countries, have been subjected to FGM. Despite the severity of the problem, we know very little about causes of GBV and what can be done to eliminate it.

Gender-based violence (GBV) is omnipresent, but poorer countries are more affected. Intimate partner violence (IPV), the most common form of GBV, affects one-third of women worldwide and 37% of women in Africa (WHO 2013). IPV alone has an estimated global cost of over 5 % of World GDP while the cost in Sub-Saharan Africa is 15 % of the regional GDP. Other types of GBV, such as female genital cutting (FGM), are also widespread: At least 200 million girls and women, mostly in low-income countries, have been subjected to FGM. Despite the severity of the problem, there are large gaps in our knowledge about causes of GBV and what can be done to eliminate it. In this project we use natural and large-scale field experiments in Ethiopia to identify the effects of poverty reducing interventions and economic development on GBV and investigate the likely mechanisms behind the violence, especially the role of norms. This will generate useful knowledge for policymakers and practitioners that are struggling to identify what interventions should be used to eliminate GBV. The project draws on, combines, and develops theories from different fields of the social sciences and epidemiology/public health. The main goal is to push the research frontier in economics but we are also expecting significant advances in adjacent disciplines, such as epidemiology. The project outlines an ambitious and bold research agenda, addressing theoretical and empirical challenges in the study of the role that poverty reduction and economic development play for reducing GBV. Together the experiments will allow for theoretical advancement in elucidating the scope conditions for when and how effects occur. Individually the experiments also answer questions at the research frontier. The project will generate useful knowledge for policymakers and practitioners that are struggling to identify what interventions should be used to eliminate GBV.

Publications from Cristin

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Funding scheme:

NORGLOBAL2-Norge - global partner