A Livestock Transfer and Training Program Increases Women's Empowerment and Financial Inclusion in Nepal

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Productive asset transfer programs, often involving livestock, are a popular antipoverty program globally. In a randomized controlled trial, we evaluated the impacts of a Heifer International asset transfer program in Nepal. We find that in just over one year women beneficiaries are more empowered and connected to financial markets. We observed these benefits not only among households who received goats and training directly from the program, but also for those brought into the program through “Passing on the Gift,” where other women in the same village are recruited, trained and eventually given livestock by initial Heifer beneficiaries.