On November 5, 2020, Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA), the University of Southern California Center for Economic and Social Research, the Busara Center for Behavioral Economics, and the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) held a webinar on gender transformative finance across East and Southern Africa, focusing on unpacking effects and directions for new research. Researchers presented their research questions, implementation challenges, and findings across Kenya, Tanzania, and Zambia. Caroline Morrow (IPA Tanzania) presented on a randomized controlled trial exploring the role of intra-household bargaining on the take-up, usage, and impact of e-bank and savings accounts offered to women in Tanzania. Nava Ashraf (London School of Economics) presented quantitative and qualitative evidence from Zambia on overcoming the risks of expropriation faced by female entrepreneurs. Simone Schaner (University of Southern California, Center for Economic and Social Research) presented mixed-methods research from Kenya on how women use financial services to support their lives, and on the impact of these services on women's well-being.

Following the research presentations, IDRC shared their perspective and research agenda for 2021. Anisha Singh (Busara Center for Behavioral Economics) moderated the discussion.

Watch the webinar recording below:

Speakers

Moderator
 

• Anisha Singh, Director, Research and Innovation, Busara Center for Behavioral Economics

Presenters

• Caroline Morrow, Research Lead, IPA Tanzania
• Nava Ashraf, Professor of Economics, London School of Economics
• Simone Schaner, Assistant Professor (Research) of Economics, University of Southern California, Center for Economic and Social Research