Livestock transfer program

Livestock transfer programs are a popular way for donors from wealthy countries to give to individuals and communities in developing countries. Many of these programs, including those operated by Heifer International, employ a “pay it forward mechanism.” UGA agricultural and applied economists are conducting an evaluation. With research funding from the United States Agency for International Development, they are conducting a randomized control trial with 3,300 women in rural Nepal. The study not only looks at the overall impact of this program, but at the mechanisms by which it works. They find program beneficiaries to have better financial practices (notably savings), increased empowerment, and higher aspirations. They also find vastly improved livestock husbandry practices by beneficiaries. They expect that these early indicators of success will lead to increased income, asset accumulation, and food security in the future.