The impact of a financial inclusion and legal training intervention on economic and social empowerment of female household heads in Egypt

Last registered on August 01, 2025
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Pre-Trial

Trial Information

General Information

Title
The impact of a financial inclusion and legal training intervention on economic and social empowerment of female household heads in Egypt
RCT ID
AEARCTR-0016480
Initial registration date
July 29, 2025

Initial registration date is when the trial was registered.

It corresponds to when the registration was submitted to the Registry to be reviewed for publication.

First published
August 01, 2025, 10:19 AM EDT

First published corresponds to when the trial was first made public on the Registry after being reviewed.

Locations

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Primary Investigator

Name
Leila Baghdadi
Affiliation
World Bank
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Other Primary Investigator(s)

PI Name
Maia Sieverding
PI Affiliation
World Bank
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PI Name
Asif Islam
PI Affiliation
World Bank
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PI Name
Roberta Gatti
PI Affiliation
World Bank
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Additional Trial Information

Status
In development
Start date
2025-06-01
End date
2026-09-15
Keywords
Finance & Microfinance, Gender
Additional Keywords
JEL code(s)
Secondary IDs
Prior work
This trial does not extend or rely on any prior RCTs.
Abstract
This trial is a cluster RCT to evaluate the WISALA program, which supports group-based savings and loan associations for female heads of household in Egypt. The study examines the program’s impact on women’s engagement in income-generating activities, expenditures on children’s education and health, and women’s empowerment.

External Link(s)

Registration Citation

Citation
Baghdadi, Leila et al. 2025. "The impact of a financial inclusion and legal training intervention on economic and social empowerment of female household heads in Egypt." AEA RCT Registry. August 01. https://doi.org/10.1257/rct.16480-1.0
Sponsors & Partners
Experimental Details

Interventions

Intervention(s)
The intervention consists of two components that are delivered as a package: (1) group savings and loans associations co-capitalized by the implementing partner; and (2) financial literacy and legal training. To be eligible for the program women must be female heads of household. The savings and loan (WISALA) groups each consist of 25 women. Participants are encouraged to take loans from the WISALA to implement an income-generating activity. The trainings cover financial skills and women’s legal rights in Egypt.
Intervention Start Date
2025-08-31
Intervention End Date
2026-08-31

Primary Outcomes

Primary Outcomes (end points)
Monthly earned income

Whether the participant has an income-generating activity (IGA)
Primary Outcomes (explanation)

Secondary Outcomes

Secondary Outcomes (end points)
Individual level:

Control over decision-making about IGAs

Knowledge of legal rights

Financial literacy

Subjective wellbeing

Self-efficacy

Women’s agency (control over decision making, actions towards realizing legal rights)

Household level

Food insecurity

Food expenditure

Expenditures on children (healthcare and education)

School absenteeism among children in the household

Percentage of children in the household who participate in child labor
Secondary Outcomes (explanation)

Experimental Design

Experimental Design
The study will be conducted as a cluster randomized controlled trial in two governorates in Upper Egypt. Each cluster will consist of one WISALA. A total of 1,000 female household heads will be recruited and formed into 40 WISALAs. Due to the limited mobility of women in the study context, WISALAs will be formed based on practical and geographic considerations to facilitate the members’ ability to meet regularly. Randomization will then take place at the WISALA level; 20 WISALAs will be randomized into treatment and 20 into control. A baseline survey will be conducted prior to the start of program implementation and a follow-up survey will be conducted one year after the WISALAs are capitalized.
Experimental Design Details
Not available
Randomization Method
Randomization done in office by a computer 
Randomization Unit
The WISALA (savings and loan group consisting of 25 women)
Was the treatment clustered?
Yes

Experiment Characteristics

Sample size: planned number of clusters
40 WISALAs
Sample size: planned number of observations
1,000 women 
Sample size (or number of clusters) by treatment arms
20 treatment WISALAs; 20 control WISALAs
Minimum detectable effect size for main outcomes (accounting for sample design and clustering)
Supporting Documents and Materials
IRB

Institutional Review Boards (IRBs)

IRB Name
HML IRB
IRB Approval Date
2025-05-21
IRB Approval Number
#2971
Analysis Plan