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Liberia: Couples Plan, Violence Surges
24 Sep
Summary
- Joint financial planning in cash aid led to more income.
- However, it also increased intimate partner violence.
- This occurred mostly in households with prior violence risk.
Cash transfers in Liberia aim to alleviate poverty by providing funds for essential needs and income generation. Initially, the program targeted women to give them economic control.
A recent World Bank-funded experiment in Liberia's Maryland and Bomi counties involved over 2,300 households receiving $750 each, more than double the typical amount.
Half of these households participated in joint financial planning sessions. These sessions encouraged couples to strategize together on spending priorities, with visual aids used for lower literacy rates.
Studies released in July showed that households engaging in joint financial planning saw greater economic benefits than those receiving only cash transfers.
However, a surprising consequence emerged: couples in high-risk households for partner violence experienced an increase in such incidents after participating in the joint planning. Researchers hypothesize this may stem from conflicts over deviations from agreed-upon plans or shifts in power dynamics.
Future research aims to refine these planning interventions to mitigate potential negative outcomes while preserving economic benefits.
