Collective Action and Women's Agency : A Background Paper

Following the findings and policy
messages of the World Development Report (WDR) on gender
equality and development 2012, the World Bankapos;s gender
and development group are seeking to deepen the evidence
base on promoting womenapos;s agency as a basis for enhanced
action on gender equality. A component of this work is a
review of evidence on the relationship between collective
action and womenapos;s agency: whether and how different
forms of collective action enhance womenapos;s ability to
exercise agency in key domains and the operational
implications for Bank policies and programs. The paper seeks
to clarify the conceptual terrain of collective action;
identify the links with womenapos;s agency; and draw lessons
from the evidence on what works and what does not for
boosting development and gender-equality outcomes. It draws
attention on the somewhat smaller body of empirical research
examining the mechanics of collective action and its links
with economic and social wellbeing, particularly within
developing societies. The findings are complex, but the
overall conclusions are consistent with an emerging body of
literature now questioning participation as a silver bullet
in development and calling for more flexible,
context-sensitive approaches for promoting agency, and empowerment.