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General

Study Overview

Title:

Enhancing the Economic Impact of Rural Roads on Women in Nicaragua

Study is 3ie funded:

No

Study ID:

RIDIE-STUDY-ID-5e61e4f7b0cfa

Initial Registration Date:

03/05/2020

Last Update Date:

01/14/2020

Study Status:

In Development

Location(s):

Nicaragua

Abstract:

Using quasi-experimental regression techniques, this impact evaluation aims to present causal estimates for the effects of improved road infrastruture on a series of important economic and social outcomes of women. The effect is measured by the difference in the change of outcomes before and after the road improvements between (i) a group of women that is located near an upgraded road (the treatment group), and (ii) a group that is not located near an upgraded road (the control group).
In the analysis, women living near control roads that are prioritized to receive upgrades in subsequent road infrastructure projects are given greater importance relative to women located near control roads ranked lower in the national infrastructure development plan.

Registration Citation:

Categories:

Agriculture and Rural Development
Transportation

Additional Keywords:

Secondary ID Number(s):

Principal Investigator(s)

Name of First PI:

Arndt Reichert

Affiliation:

The World Bank

Name of Second PI:

Elizaveta Perova

Affiliation:

Intervention

Intervention Overview

Intervention:

Road improvement works (such as cobblestone surfacing) for about 100 km of rural roads in productive zones of the country which have unreliable road infrastructure inaccessible during the rainy season. Prior to these projects financed by the World Bank and other multilateral institutions, it was estimated that less than one-third of the population had access to a paved road. Moreover, it was estimated that 30 percent of the total road network were not transitable during the rainy season (May to October), resulting in high costs and loss of income for rural producers and restricting their access to local and regional markets due to longer travel times, spoilage, and losses of perishable goods, harm to live animals during travel, and increased vehicle-operating.

Theory of Change:

First, the key outcomes of the road rehabilitation project include reduced travel time and costs. As a result, rural women might travel more frequently. This can imply that more women enter wage employment and self-employment, agricultural and nonagricultural production, and an overall increase in productivity. Second, road improvements can lead to more vibrant local rural economies, with vertically and horizontally diversified production and positive impacts observed in both the agricultural and non-agricultural sectors. Third, the positive effects of rehabilitated roads on women’s economic and social empowerment may run through the channels of improved networking opportunities and relations with members of local communities. Fourth, women can be indirectly affected through the effects of improved rural roads on other household members, especially the male spouse. For instance, in increased overall household income can result in increased consumption of household and female-oriented goods.

Multiple Treatment Arms Evaluated?

No

Implementing Agency

Name of Organization:

Ministry of Transport

Type of Organization:

Public Sector, e.g. Government Agency or Ministry

Program Funder

Name of Organization:

The World Bank

Type of Organization:

Public Sector, e.g. Government Agency or Ministry

Intervention Timing

Intervention or Program Started at time of Registration?

Yes

Start Date:

02/01/2016

End Date:

06/08/2022

Evaluation Method

Evaluation Method Overview

Primary (or First) Evaluation Method:

Difference in difference/fixed effects

Other (not Listed) Method:

Additional Evaluation Method (If Any):

Other (not Listed) Method:

Method Details

Details of Evaluation Approach:

Outcomes (Endpoints):

actual and potential mobility, income generation activities (e.g., agricultural and non-agricultural production, wage labor and self-employment), incomes, and intra-household decision-making power defined as the ability to exert control over decisions related to women’s mobility, household spending, and investments. The latter is measured by women’s autonomy of travel decisions, participation in household spending decisions on education and health, participation in household productive investment decisions, and consumption of female-oriented durables.

Unit of Analysis:

women

Hypotheses:

What are the economic effects of rural road infrastructure on rural women in Nicaragua?

Based on this research question, the team will address the following sub-questions:

1. What is the impact of the road rehabilitation projects on women’s mobility in rural areas?
2. Has there been increased accessibility to the nearest markets due to the improved road quality? If so, how much?
3. What is the impact of the road rehabilitation projects on women’s employment, income, and wellbeing in rural areas?
4. What is the impact of the road rehabilitation projects on intra-household decision-making power of women in rural areas?
5. Do particular groups of women with different levels of household and child-rearing responsibilities benefit more from the road rehabilitation projects?

Unit of Intervention or Assignment:

road

Number of Clusters in Sample:

50

Number of Individuals in Sample:

6000

Size of Treatment, Control, or Comparison Subsamples:

3000

Supplementary Files

Analysis Plan:

Other Documents:

Data

Outcomes Data

Description:

survey data

Data Already Collected?

Yes

Data Previously Used?

Yes

Data Access:

Restricted -- Access requires a formal approval process

Data Obtained by the Study Researchers?

Data Approval Process:

Formal request to Ministry of Transport

Approval Status:

Yes-obtained approval and have received the data

Treatment Assignment Data

Participation or Assignment Information:

No

Description:

road infrastructure shape files

Data Obtained by the Study Researchers?

Yes

Data Previously Used?

Yes

Data Access:

Restricted -- Access requires a formal approval process

Data Obtained by the Study Researchers?

Data Approval Process:

Formal request to Ministry of Transport

Approval Status:

Yes-obtained approval and have received the data

Data Analysis

Data Analysis Status:

No

Study Materials

Upload Study Materials:

Registration Category

Registration Category:

Prospective, Category 3: Data for measuring impacts have been obtained/collected by the research team but analysis for this evaluation has not started

Completion

Completion Overview

Intervention Completion Date:

Data Collection Completion Date:

Unit of Analysis:

Clusters in Final Sample:

Total Observations in Final Sample:

Size of Treatment, Control, or Comparison Subsamples:

Findings

Preliminary Report:

Preliminary Report URL:

Summary of Findings:

Paper:

Paper Summary:

Paper Citation:

Data Availability

Data Availability (Primary Data):

Date of Data Availability:

Data URL or Contact:

Access procedure:

Other Materials

Survey:

Survey Instrument Links or Contact:

Program Files:

Program Files Links or Contact:

External Link:

External Link Description:

Description of Changes:

Study Stopped

Date:

Reason: