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General

Study Overview

Title:

Evaluation of the Agriculture, Nutrition, and Gender Linkages (ANGeL) project

Study is 3ie funded:

No

Study ID:

RIDIE-STUDY-ID-5afbe43292b4c

Initial Registration Date:

05/16/2018

Last Update Date:

01/07/2021

Study Status:

Completed

Change History for Status

Changed On	Previous Value
01/07/2021	Ongoing

Location(s):

Bangladesh

Abstract:

The “Agriculture, Nutrition, and Gender Linkages” (ANGeL) project aims to understand the impacts of combining new knowledge on agricultural production, nutrition knowledge, and gender sensitization on farm households in rural Bangladesh. We evaluate the impacts of different combinations of these intervention components on household and individual dietary diversity and women’s empowerment using a multi-arm cluster-randomized impact evaluation. Each treatment arm consists of 25 clusters and 625 target households. Baseline assessments were done in 2015; the intervention is implemented and monitored between 2016 and 2017; endline assessment that includes quantitative surveys and qualitative research will be completed by August 2018.

Change History for Abstract

Changed On

Previous Value

01/07/2021

The “Agriculture, Nutrition, and Gender Linkages” (ANGeL) project aims to understand the impacts of combining new knowledge on agricultural production, nutrition knowledge, and gender sensitization on farm households in rural Bangladesh. We evaluate the impacts of different combinations of these intervention components on household and individual dietary diversity and women’s empowerment using a multi-arm cluster-randomized impact evaluation. Each treatment arm consists of 25 clusters and 625 target households. Baseline assessments were done in 2015; the intervention is implemented and monitored between 2016 and 2017; endline assessment that includes quantitative surveys and qualitative research will be completed by August 2018.

Registration Citation:

Ahmed, A. and Roy, S., 2018. Evaluation of the Agriculture, Nutrition, and Gender Linkages (ANGeL) project. Registry for International Development for Impact Evaluations (RIDIE). Available at: 10.23846/ridie142

Categories:

Agriculture and Rural Development
Health, Nutrition, and Population

Additional Keywords:

Agriculture, nutrition, gender, women’s empowerment

Secondary ID Number(s):

Principal Investigator(s)

Name of First PI:

Dr. Akhter Ahmed

Affiliation:

International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)

Name of Second PI:

Dr. Shalini Roy

Affiliation:

International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)

Study Sponsor

Name:

USAID

Study Sponsor Location:

Bangladesh

Research Partner

Name of Partner Institution:

Cornell University

Type of Organization:

Research institute/University

Location:

United States

Intervention

Intervention Overview

Intervention:

There were three interventions: 1. Agriculture Production: The focus is on diversifying agricultural production (fruits and vegetables; pulses; oilseeds; and poultry, dairy, fish, livestock), and covers bed and pit preparation, soil health management, intercropping, quality agricultural inputs, pest control management, postharvest management and marketing, fish farming, and goat, cow, and poultry rearing. 2. Nutrition BCC: Conducting high-quality behavior change communication (BCC) training to improve nutrition at the household level. Topics cover micronutrients (iron, iodine, zinc, vitamin A, etc.), breastfeeding, complementary feeding, women’s nutrition and care, hand washing, and safe food preparation. 3. Gender Sensitization: Undertaking gender sensitization activities that lead to the improvement in the status/empowerment of women. This is based on Helen Keller International’s “Nurturing Connections” curriculum.

Change History for Intervention

Changed On

Previous Value

01/07/2021

There are three interventions: 1. Agriculture Production: The focus is on diversifying agricultural production (fruits and vegetables; pulses; oilseeds; and poultry, dairy, fish, livestock), and covers bed and pit preparation, soil health management, intercropping, quality agricultural inputs, pest control management, postharvest management and marketing, fish farming, and goat, cow, and poultry rearing. 2. Nutrition BCC: Conducting high-quality behavior change communication (BCC) training to improve nutrition at the household level. Topics cover micronutrients (iron, iodine, zinc, vitamin A, etc.), breastfeeding, complementary feeding, women’s nutrition and care, hand washing, and safe food preparation. 3. Gender Sensitization: Undertaking gender sensitization activities that lead to the improvement in the status/empowerment of women. This is based on Helen Keller International’s “Nurturing Connections” curriculum.

Private Intervention Details:

N/A

Theory of Change:

As part of the ANGeL Project’s evaluation research, three impact pathways will examine the agriculture-nutrition-gender nexus:

1) Food Production: Food production affects nutrition through food availability, quality, and pricing of food; information about the nutritional value of food produced; and marketing—that is, how certain foods are being promoted for sale and consumption. Farm household’s production practices can improve the diversity, nutrient quality, and quantity of foods available to the household year-round. Diversified and efficient commercial agriculture can provide a variety of foods with high nutrient content to urban and rural non-farm consumers at affordable prices. Soil quality, agricultural practices, and technologies such as biofortification, influence this pathway.

2) Agricultural Income: Overall, income and nutrition are related. Agriculture is an important source of income for agricultural workers as well as producers. Agricultural production and prices also influence consumers’ purchasing power, as well as incomes of food processors and food value chain actors. Child nutrition is usually more adequate in wealthier households than in poorer ones. However, the correlation is not always as strong or inevitable as might be expected.

3) Women’s Empowerment: The pathway from women’s empowerment to improved nutrition is influenced by various factors, including social norms, knowledge, skills, and the shared power of decision-making within households.

Multiple Treatment Arms Evaluated?

Yes

Implementing Agency

Name of Organization:

Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), Ministry of Agriculture, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh

Type of Organization:

Public Sector, e.g. Government Agency or Ministry

Program Funder

Name of Organization:

USAID

Type of Organization:

Foreign or Multilateral Aid Agency

Intervention Timing

Intervention or Program Started at time of Registration?

Yes

Start Date:

10/29/2015

End Date:

12/31/2017

Change History for End Date

Changed On	Previous Value
01/07/2021	12/31/2018

Evaluation Method

Evaluation Method Overview

Primary (or First) Evaluation Method:

Randomized control trial

Other (not Listed) Method:

Additional Evaluation Method (If Any):

Other (not Listed) Method:

Method Details

Details of Evaluation Approach:

Limited knowledge of agricultural practices, nutrition as well as attitudes related to gender are constraints to improved production of high-value food commodities, dietary diversity, and women’s empowerment. Our RCT addresses this with the following treatments: T1: Nutrition Behavior Communication (BCC) training delivered by agricultural extension agents from the DAE; T2: Nutrition BCC delivered by local women; T3: Agricultural production training emphasizing diversifying production; T4: Agricultural production training + nutrition BCC; T5: Agricultural production training + nutrition BCC + gender sensitization. We purposively select 16 subdistricts, randomize treatments across administrative blocks (25 blocks per treatment; 35 control). Within each block, from a census of households with one child <24m at baseline, randomly selecting 25. Using baseline and endline data, we will assess levels and correlates of attrition. We will estimate impact using ANCOVA and single difference estimators. Basic estimates will control for treatment status and strata; extended estimates will control for a common set of characteristics. Standard errors will adjust for clustering.

Change History for Details of Evaluation Approach

Changed On

Previous Value

01/07/2021

Limited knowledge of agricultural practices, nutrition as well as attitudes related to gender are constraints to improved production of high-value food commodities, dietary diversity, and women’s empowerment. Our RCT addresses this with the following treatments: T1: Nutrition Behavior Communication (BCC) training delivered by agricultural extension agents from the DAE; T2: Nutrition BCC delivered by local women; T3: Agricultural production training emphasizing diversifying production; T4: Agricultural production training + nutrition BCC; T5: Agricultural production training + nutrition BCC + gender sensitization. We purposively select 16 subdistricts, randomize treatments across administrative blocks (25 blocks per treatment; 35 control). Within each block, from a census of households with one child <24m at baseline, randomly selecting 25. Using baseline and endline data, we will assess levels and correlates of attrition. We will estimate impact using ANCOVA and single difference estimators. Basic estimates will control for treatment status and strata; extended estimates will control for a common set of characteristics. Standard errors will adjust for clustering.

Private Details of Evaluation Approach:

Outcomes (Endpoints):

There are three primary outcomes, corresponding to the three forms of intervention implemented in this study. 1. Agricultural production diversity 2. Diet diversity 3. Women’s empowerment The survey instrument has been designed to collect data on multiple secondary outcomes, including: - Knowledge of good farm practices - Knowledge of good infant and young child feeding practices - Attitudes toward gender and intrahousehold dynamics - Use of inputs in agriculture - Entry into new agricultural activities - Agricultural income - Asset holdings - Household consumption/expenditure per capita (in aggregate and disaggregated by category) - Caloric availability at the household level - Individual caloric intake - Infant and young child feeding practices - Gender Parity Index - Intimate Partner Violence - Micronutrient take at the household level -Individual micronutrient intake -Anthropometry (Height-for-Age (HAZ), Weight-for-Height (WHZ) and Weight-for-Age (WAZ) Z-scores, stunting, wasting, underweight)

Change History for Outcomes (Endpoints)

Changed On

Previous Value

01/07/2021

There are three primary outcomes, corresponding to the three forms of intervention implemented in this study. 1. Agricultural production diversity 2. Diet diversity 3. Women’s empowerment The survey instrument has been designed to collect data on multiple secondary outcomes, including: - Knowledge of good farm practices - Knowledge of good infant and young child feeding practices - Attitudes toward gender and intrahousehold dynamics - Use of inputs in agriculture - Entry into new agricultural activities - Agricultural income - Asset holdings - Household consumption/expenditure per capita (in aggregate and disaggregated by category) - Caloric availability at the household level - Individual caloric intake - Infant and young child feeding practices - Gender Parity Index - Intimate Partner Violence - Micronutrient take at the household level -Individual micronutrient intake -Anthropometry (Height-for-Age (HAZ), Weight-for-Height (WHZ) and Weight-for-Age (WAZ) Z-scores, stunting, wasting, underweight)

Unit of Analysis:

Farm households, women of reproductive age, and pre-school children. All analyses will account for clustering of standard errors at the level of allocation of the intervention.

Hypotheses:

(1) Households in the agriculture arm will have higher agriculture production diversity and dietary diversity than households in the control arm. (2) Households with combined nutrition and agriculture production interventions will have higher agriculture production diversity and dietary diversity than the control arm or compared to interventions that received only one intervention—either nutrition or agriculture production. (3) Households that received nutrition interventions implemented by trained nutrition workers will have higher dietary diversity outcomes than the same interventions implemented by agricultural extension agents, and compared to the control arm. (4) Households in the agriculture, nutrition BCC, and gender sensitization arm will have larger impacts on all outcomes than all other treatment arms and the control arm. (5) Households in the gender sensitization arm will show greater improvements in women’s empowerment than households in the control arm, or households in other treatment arms that did not receive gender sensitization trainings.

Change History for Hypotheses

Changed On

Previous Value

01/07/2021

(1) Households in the agriculture arm will have higher agriculture production diversity and dietary diversity than households in the control arm. (2) Households with combined nutrition and agriculture production interventions will have higher agriculture production diversity and dietary diversity than the control arm or compared to interventions that received only one intervention—either nutrition or agriculture production. (3) Households that received nutrition interventions implemented by trained nutrition workers will have higher dietary diversity outcomes than the same interventions implemented by agricultural extension agents, and compared to the control arm. (4) Households in the agriculture, nutrition BCC, and gender sensitization arm will have larger impacts on all outcomes than all other treatment arms and the control arm. (5) Households in the gender sensitization arm will show greater improvements in women’s empowerment than households in the control arm, or households in other treatment arms that did not receive gender sensitization trainings.

Unit of Intervention or Assignment:

The intervention is randomized using blocks of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE).

Number of Clusters in Sample:

160

Number of Individuals in Sample:

4,000 households

Size of Treatment, Control, or Comparison Subsamples:

T1: Nutrition BCC, 625. T2: Nutrition BCC2, 625. T3: Ag production, 625. T4: Ag production+nutrition BCC, 625. T5: Ag production+nutrition BCC+gender, 625. Control, 875.

Supplementary Files

Analysis Plan:

Other Documents:

Data

Outcomes Data

Description:

Household survey

Data Already Collected?

Yes

Data Previously Used?

No

Data Access:

Not restricted - access with no requirements or minimal requirements (e.g. web registration)

Data Obtained by the Study Researchers?

No

Data Approval Process:

Approval Status:

Treatment Assignment Data

Participation or Assignment Information:

Yes

Description:

Data Obtained by the Study Researchers?

Data Previously Used?

Data Access:

Data Obtained by the Study Researchers?

Data Approval Process:

Approval Status:

Data Analysis

Data Analysis Status:

Study Materials

Upload Study Materials:

Registration Category

Registration Category:

Prospective, Category 2: Data for measuring impacts have been collected by others but not obtained or analyzed by the research team

Completion

Completion Overview

Intervention Completion Date:

12/30/2017

Data Collection Completion Date:

03/01/2018

Unit of Analysis:

Farm households, women of reproductive age, and pre-school children. All analyses accounted for clustering of standard errors at the level of allocation of the intervention.

Clusters in Final Sample:

160 clusters

Total Observations in Final Sample:

Out of 4,000 farm households interviewed at baseline, 3,898 farm households were interviewed at endline.

Size of Treatment, Control, or Comparison Subsamples:

T1: Nutrition BCC, 625. T2: Nutrition BCC2, 625. T3: Ag production, 625. T4: Ag production+nutrition BCC, 625. T5: Ag production+nutrition BCC+gender, 625. Control, 875.

Findings

Preliminary Report:

Yes

Preliminary Report URL:

Not available

Summary of Findings:

omes and hypotheses you outlined when registering. 2000 character limit.)

In terms of agriculture impacts, all treatments significantly increased agriculture production knowledge, but magnitudes were larger from arms including agriculture training (T3, T4, T5) than those with nutrition training only, and knowledge impacts were larger for women than men. All treatments increased adoption of improved agriculture production practices, but magnitudes were larger from arms with agriculture training (T3, T4, and T5) and larger among women than men. Nutrition knowledge significantly improved from all treatment arms, but magnitudes were larger from arms including nutrition training, and impacts were larger for women than men. Household diet quality and child diet diversity significantly increased only from the treatment that provided nutrition training from community women and from the treatments that combined nutrition and agriculture training from AEAs. Women’s empowerment significantly improved across all treatments, but improvement was significantly larger with added gender sensitization (T5). Results suggest several treatment arms improved men’s attitudes around gender roles (T1, T4, T5), with larger improvements from the arm with gender sensitization. There were no significant increases in men’s empowerment, but also no significant decreases, suggesting that gains for women were not achieved at the expense of men in this context.

Paper:

Yes

Paper Summary:

Title: “Designing for Empowerment Impact in Agricultural Development Projects: Experimental Evidence From the Agriculture, Nutrition, and Gender Linkages (ANGeL) Project in Bangladesh”

Please view the abstract of this study at the following link: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3674113

Paper Citation:

Quisumbing, Agnes R. and Ahmed, Akhter U. and Hoddinott, John and Pereira, Audrey and Roy, Shalini, Designing for Empowerment Impact in Agricultural Development Projects: Experimental Evidence From the Agriculture, Nutrition, and Gender Linkages (ANGeL) Project in Bangladesh (August 14, 2020). IFPRI Discussion Paper 1957, 2020, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3674113

Data Availability

Data Availability (Primary Data):

Yes--Available in the future

Date of Data Availability:

12/31/2021

Data URL or Contact:

N/A

Access procedure:

N/A

Other Materials

Survey:

No

Survey Instrument Links or Contact:

N/A

Program Files:

No

Program Files Links or Contact:

N/A

External Link:

https://www.ifpri.org/project/agriculture-nutrition-and-gender-linkages-angel

External Link Description:

The landing page for the ANGeL pilot project on the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) website.

Description of Changes:

Study Stopped

Date:

Reason: