Integrating self-help groups into governmental unconditional cash transfer programs

Last registered on May 11, 2026
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Pre-Trial

Trial Information

General Information

Title
Integrating self-help groups into governmental unconditional cash transfer programs
RCT ID
AEARCTR-0018570
Initial registration date
May 06, 2026

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
May 11, 2026, 8:59 AM EDT

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

Locations

Country
Kenya
Region

Primary Investigator

Name
Flavio Malagutti
Affiliation
UCSB
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Other Primary Investigator(s)

PI Name
Komal Trishna
PI Affiliation
UCSB
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Additional Trial Information

Status
Completed
Start date
2025-03-01
End date
2025-07-31
Keywords
Finance & Microfinance, Gender, Governance, Welfare
Additional Keywords
JEL code(s)
Secondary IDs
Prior work
This trial does not extend or rely on any prior RCTs.
Abstract
This evaluate a randomized controlled trial focused on whether complementing UCTs with facilitated participation in women's Self-Help Groups (SHGs) generates additional gains in household financial stability and quality of life, and whether the combined intervention is cost-effective. We study 651 female caregivers from households enrolled in Kenya's Inua Jamii-OVC program in Nairobi, randomized at the household level to a control arm (UCT only) or a treatment arm offering facilitated SHG entry, a KES 2,000 contribution subsidy, and a four-day training in life skills and personal finance. Baseline data were collected in March 2025 and endline in June–July 2025. Outcomes span household, caregiver, and child domains. We examine heterogeneity by residential proximity to other treated households, and benchmark cost-effectiveness ratios against standalone UCT evidence.
External Link(s)

Registration Citation

Citation
Malagutti, Flavio and Komal Trishna. 2026. "Integrating self-help groups into governmental unconditional cash transfer programs." AEA RCT Registry. May 11. https://doi.org/10.1257/rct.18570-1.0
Sponsors & Partners

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Experimental Details

Interventions

Intervention(s)
Intervention (Hidden)
Intervention Start Date
2025-03-01
Intervention End Date
2025-07-31

Primary Outcomes

Primary Outcomes (end points)
Caregiver, child, and household welfare
Primary Outcomes (explanation)

Secondary Outcomes

Secondary Outcomes (end points)
Secondary Outcomes (explanation)

Experimental Design

Experimental Design
We study 651 female caregivers from households enrolled in Kenya's Inua Jamii-OVC program in Nairobi, randomized at the household level to a control arm (Inua Jamii UCT only) or a treatment arm offering facilitated SHG entry, a KES 2,000 contribution subsidy, and a four-day training in life skills and personal finance.
Experimental Design Details
Randomization Method
Randomization done in office by a computer
Randomization Unit
Household
Was the treatment clustered?
No

Experiment Characteristics

Sample size: planned number of clusters
651
Sample size: planned number of observations
621
Sample size (or number of clusters) by treatment arms
325
Minimum detectable effect size for main outcomes (accounting for sample design and clustering)
Supporting Documents and Materials
IRB

Institutional Review Boards (IRBs)

IRB Name
Amref Health Africa in Kenya
IRB Approval Date
2024-12-03
IRB Approval Number
ESRC P 1754/2024
Analysis Plan

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Post-Trial

Post Trial Information

Study Withdrawal

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Intervention

Is the intervention completed?
No
Data Collection Complete
Data Publication

Data Publication

Is public data available?
No

Program Files

Program Files
Reports, Papers & Other Materials

Relevant Paper(s)

Reports & Other Materials