Steps

Part I: Focus Group Discussions

To identify domains for change, the research team can hold focus group discussions among men and women (separately) to discuss in which areas of life they would envision change in order to promote women’s empowerment. This aggregation, however, would not take into account the number of times any one domain appeared among participant responses.

The team then analyzes results of these discussions and identified each domain of life that appeared among responses within the commune, and then across communes within a province, and then across all provinces in the region where the study took place.

Within each domain identified, staff and partners formulated community visions for change into 4 or 5 levels of change in the form of indicators.

Example: Under the domain of representation in institutions, the levels identified were

• Women do not see the importance of taking part in community institutions;
• Women are interested in, but are prevented from, taking part in community institutions (by husbands, work, etc.);
• Women are present in institutions but do not influence decision-making;
• Women are present in and influence decision-making of institutions; and
• Women defend their ideas and gain support from others in community institutions.

Part II: Measuring Levels of Empowerment within Each Domain

Each of the indicators are then translated into questions for an inquiry to measure levels of empowerment among women. After testing the questionnaire, the research team undertook an inquiry to measure women’s empowerment levels as well as compare women’s empowerment levels across communities and provinces.