1. The self help group bank linkage programme -- 2. Impact assessment methodologies and study design -- 3. Reducing poverty and vulnerability -- 4. Asset creation -- 5. Empowering women -- 6. Building human capital through training -- 7. Achieving impact and meeting challenges.

We evaluate the effect of delivery mechanisms for training provided by facilitators of self help groups (SHGs). Indian SHGs are unique in that they are mainly NGO-formed microfinance groups but later funded by commercial banks. We correct for both membership and training endogeneity. Training...

We examine how the impact on women empowerment varies with respect to the location and type of group linkage of the respondent. Using household survey data from five states in India, we correct for selection bias to estimate a structural equation model. Our results reveal that in the southern...

The provision of business training with microfinance leads to a positive impact on assets for the participating households. We correct for membership selection bias and account for potential training endogeneity with propensity score matching, using data from the Self Help Group microfinance...

We investigate if participation in Indian Self Help Group microfinance program (SHG) results in reducing vulnerability. Vulnerability estimates are constructed using crosssectional SHG rural household survey data, collected in 2003. The potential selection bias is eliminated by propensity score...