Publication:
Measuring Empowerment in Practice : Structuring Analysis and Framing Indicators

Simple item page
dc.contributor.authorAlsop, Ruth
dc.contributor.authorHeinsohn, Nina
dc.date.accessioned2012-06-22T20:10:42Z
dc.date.available2012-06-22T20:10:42Z
dc.date.issued2005-02
dc.description.abstractThis paper presents an analytic framework that can be used to measure and monitor empowerment processes and outcomes. The measuring empowerment (ME) framework, rooted in both conceptual discourse and measurement practice, illustrates how to gather data on empowerment and structure its analysis. The framework can be used to measure empowerment at both the intervention level and the country level, as a part of poverty or governance monitoring. The paper first provides a definition of empowerment and then explains how the concept can be reduced to measurable components. Empowerment is defined as a person's capacity to make effective choices; that is, as the capacity to transform choices into desired actions and outcomes. The extent or degree to which a person is empowered is influenced by personal agency (the capacity to make purposive choice) and opportunity structure (the institutional context in which choice is made). Asset endowments are used as indicators of agency. These assets may be psychological, informational, organizational, material, social, financial, or human. Opportunity structure is measured by the presence and operation of formal and informal institutions, including the laws, regulatory frameworks, and norms governing behavior. Degrees of empowerment are measured by the existence of choice, the use of choice, and the achievement of choice. Following the conceptual discussion and the presentation of the analytic framework, this paper illustrates how the ME framework can be applied, using examples from four development interventions. Each example discusses how the framework guided analysis and development of empowerment indicators. The paper also presents a draft module for measuring empowerment at the country level. The module can be used alone or be integrated into country-level poverty or governance monitoring systems that seek to add an empowerment dimension to their analysis.en
dc.identifierhttp://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2005/02/5642253/measuring-empowerment-practice-structuring-analysis-framing-indicators
dc.identifier.doi10.1596/1813-9450-3510
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10986/8856
dc.languageEnglish
dc.publisherWorld Bank, Washington, DC
dc.relation.ispartofseriesPolicy Research Working Paper; No. 3510
dc.rightsCC BY 3.0 IGO
dc.rights.holderWorld Bank
dc.rights.urihttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/igo/
dc.subjectADULTS
dc.subjectCOMMUNITIES
dc.subjectCOUNCILS
dc.subjectELECTIONS
dc.subjectEMPLOYMENT
dc.subjectEMPOWERMENT
dc.subjectEMPOWERMENT/
dc.subjectENDOWMENTS
dc.subjectFINANCES
dc.subjectGENITAL MUTILATION
dc.subjectGIRLS
dc.subjectHOUSEHOLDS
dc.subjectINCOME
dc.subjectINTERVENTION
dc.subjectJURISDICTION
dc.subjectLAWS
dc.subjectLIVING STANDARDS
dc.subjectMANAGERS
dc.subjectMOTHERS
dc.subjectPEACE
dc.subjectPOLICY RESEARCH
dc.subjectPOLITICAL PARTICIPATION
dc.subjectPOLITICAL PARTIES
dc.subjectPOVERTY REDUCTION
dc.subjectPROCUREMENT
dc.subjectRURAL COMMUNITIES
dc.subjectRURAL PEOPLE
dc.subjectRURAL WATER
dc.subjectSANITATION
dc.subjectSCHOOLS
dc.subjectSERVICE DELIVERY
dc.subjectSEXUAL HARASSMENT
dc.subjectSOCIAL CAPITAL
dc.subjectSOCIAL NETWORKS
dc.subjectSOCIAL NORMS
dc.subjectSOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS
dc.subjectSOCIAL SERVICES
dc.subjectSOCIAL STATUS
dc.subjectURBAN AREAS
dc.subjectVIOLENCE
dc.subjectWASTE
dc.titleMeasuring Empowerment in Practice : Structuring Analysis and Framing Indicatorsen
dspace.entity.typePublication
okr.crosscuttingsolutionareaGender
okr.crossref.titleMeasuring Empowerment in Practice: Structuring Analysis and Framing Indicators
okr.date.doiregistration2025-04-10T09:41:34.074370Z
okr.doctypePublications & Research::Policy Research Working Paper
okr.doctypePublications & Research
okr.docurlhttp://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2005/02/5642253/measuring-empowerment-practice-structuring-analysis-framing-indicators
okr.globalpracticeSocial, Urban, Rural and Resilience
okr.globalpracticeGovernance
okr.globalpracticeHealth, Nutrition, and Population
okr.guid320101468782165244
okr.identifier.doi10.1596/1813-9450-3510
okr.identifier.externaldocumentum000090341_20050306094734
okr.identifier.internaldocumentum5642253
okr.identifier.reportWPS3510
okr.language.supporteden
okr.pdfurlhttp://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/WDSContentServer/WDSP/IB/2005/03/06/000090341_20050306094734/Rendered/PDF/wps3510.pdfen
okr.topicHealth Monitoring and Evaluation
okr.topicRural Development::Regional Rural Development
okr.topicGovernance::Non Governmental Organizations
okr.topicRural Development::Community Based Rural Development
okr.topicPublic Sector Development::Decentralization
okr.topicHealth Economics and Finance
okr.topicHealth, Nutrition and Population::Public Health Promotion
okr.topicGender::Gender and Social Development
okr.unitDevelopment Research Group (DECRG)
okr.volume1 of 1
relation.isSeriesOfPublication26e071dc-b0bf-409c-b982-df2970295c87
relation.isSeriesOfPublication.latestForDiscovery26e071dc-b0bf-409c-b982-df2970295c87
Files
Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
Thumbnail Image
Name:
wps3510.pdf
Size:
504.69 KB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Download
No Thumbnail Available
Name:
wps3510.txt
Size:
310.25 KB
Format:
Plain Text
Download
License bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
No Thumbnail Available
Name:
license.txt
Size:
1.71 KB
Format:
Plain Text
Description:
Download
Collections
Policy Research Working Papers