Effects of Women Empowerment Group Membership on Household Food Security: Evidence from Vihiga County, Kenya

Abstract

Background: Women Empowerment Group Membership (WEGM) are widely promoted as instruments for women’s financial inclusion and household welfare improvement in rural Kenya. While WEGP may enhance household dietary diversity, evidence on how participation affects food security, and which socio-economic factors drive membership, remains limited particularly in highly vulnerable communities in Luanda Sub-County, Vihiga County.

Objective: This study examined the determinants of women’s participation in WEGP and the causal effect of participation on household dietary diversity, accounting for socio-economic and social factors.

Methods: A community-based cross-sectional survey was conducted among 384 households in Luanda Sub-County. Data captured socio-demographic characteristics, WEGP participation and household dietary diversity. Descriptive statistics and t-tests were used to explore differences between members and non-members. Binary logistic regression identified determinants of participation, while an Endogenous Switching Regression (ESR) framework was applied to estimate causal impacts on household dietary diversity (HDDS) correcting for selection bias and generating counterfactual outcomes for non-participants.

Results: Younger age, smaller household size, stronger social networks, longer community tenure and stable income sources significantly increased the likelihood of WEGM participation. ESR results show that membership to WEGP increased HDDS by 1.585 food groups (ATT), while nonmembers would gain 2.409 food groups if they joined WEGP (ATU) both significant at the 1% level, demonstrating substantial gains in dietary diversity attributable to participation.

Conclusion: WEGP participation enhances household food security by improving dietary diversity through pathways shaped by socio-economic and social factors. Policies aiming to maximize food security impacts should reduce participation barriers, promote social-network engagement and integrate WEGP within broader livelihood and social protection strategies in vulnerable rural communities.