In rural Bolivia, women face significant social and cultural barriers to empowerment, including heavy unpaid care burdens, limited decision-making power, and restricted access to resources. PEP-supported researchers evaluated the Peces para la Vida – Empowerment and Sustainability (PPV-E&S) program using a mixed-methods approach (impact evaluation, behavioral experiment, and interviews) to understand how aquaculture training affects women’s empowerment.
They found that multi-component aquaculture training programs—combining technical skills, gender sensitization, and leadership development—significantly increase women’s autonomy, agency, and social participation. Technical training raised the Women’s Empowerment in Agriculture Index (WEAI) by 13–16 percentage points, and women in female-majority groups were up to 36.7% more willing to take leadership roles. However, notable gender gaps remain, with women still less likely to lead and underrepresented in producer associations.
The study highlights that tailoring training to local contexts and establishing regional hubs for delivery can enhance effectiveness. Linking women directly to producer associations and developing a government-backed “rural women’s leadership track” can further strengthen their leadership and influence, contributing to more inclusive rural development.
Find out more about the research methods, findings, and policy recommendations in the following PEP publications:
Policy Brief 305 | English Version
