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Group versus Individual Coaching for Rural Social Protection Programs: Evidence from Uganda, Philippines, and Bangladesh (WP-26-10)

Emily A. Beam, Lasse Brune, Narayan Das, Stefan Dercon, Nathanael Goldberg, Rozina Haque, Dean Karlan, Maliha Khan, Doug Parkerson, Ashley Pople, Yasuyuki Sawada, Christopher Udry, and Rocco Zizzamia

Multifaceted social protection programs in low-income countries often include both capital grants and informational and behavioral support on the premise that households face simultaneous and multiple frictions. To tackle informational and behavioral constraints, programs typically deploy either individual or group coaching visits from field agents. The relative efficacy of individual versus group coaching could provide insights into the underlying mechanism through which information and behavioral support change household decisions. However, in three similar randomized evaluations in Uganda, the Philippines, and Bangladesh, the authors find no differences in efficacy. Given its 15–20% lower costs, group coaching is more cost-effective. 

Emily A. Beam, Associate Professor of Economics, University of Vermont 

Lasse Brune, Research Assistant Professor at the Global Poverty Research Lab, Northwestern University 

Narayan Das, Professor of Development Studies and Senior Research Fellow, BRAC University 

Stefan Dercon, Professor of Economic Policy, University of Oxford 

Nathanael Goldberg, Senior Director of Sector Programs, Innovations for Poverty Action 

Rozina Haque, Program Head of the Ultra-Poor Graduation Program, BRAC University 

Dean Karlan, Frederic Esser Nemmers Distinguished Professor of Economics and Finance, and IPR Associate, Northwestern University

Maliha Khan, Senior Research Associate, BRAC University 

Doug Parkerson, Senior Research Scientist, Innovations for Poverty Action 

Ashley Pople, Economist, The World Bank 

Yasuyuki Sawada, Professor of Economics, The University of Tokyo 

Christopher Udry, Robert E. and Emily King Professor of Economics and IPR Associate, Northwestern University

Rocco Zizzamia, Lecturer at the Oxford Department of International Development (ODID) and Research Fellow in the Department of Economics, University of Oxford 

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