The value of social capital for rural women’s wellbeing: an empirical study of the human development outcomes of women’s groups (chamas) in Kenya

Abstract

Freedom from poverty is a human right whose legal status is still under debate as it lacks the standing of a jus cogens right. Despite this, the effects of deprivation and poverty among the world’s poorest people are issues of major concern to states and the international community. While considerable efforts have been made to close the gap between the very wealthy and the very poor, global poverty rates continue to increase. Contemporary research has focused on finding methodologies that properly measure poverty and the impact of interventions implemented under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) framework and the principle of Leave No One Behind (LNOB). Innovative approaches have highlighted the importance of increasing people’s power, agency, freedom and capabilities on national economic growth and human development outcomes. The main objective of this research is to build on the existing Social Capital literature for measuring wellbeing metrics among rural women who are members of women’s collectives (locally referred to as ‘chamas’) in Kenya. Women’s collectives are valuable sites of economic power and agency for women in developing countries. Development studies have shown that members of such groups have better socioeconomic outcomes than those who live and work in isolation. This research builds on current Social Capital literature by identifying the variables for wellbeing which underpin women’s involvement in such collectives. The research used qualitative data collection methods to conduct key-informant interviews and semi-structured focus-group discussions in four counties: Kiambu, Kajiado, Makueni and Machakos counties. The recorded interviews were transcribed, and thematic analysis was conducted to identify the common indicators of Social Capital and their influence on the women’s sense of wellbeing. A summary of the emerging dimensions of Social Capital was generated and indicators of wellbeing were codified into a Social Capital Index which can be incorporated into County Integrated Development Plans and any other rural development policy frameworks.

Date of Award	19 Feb 2026
Original language	English
Supervisor	Jonathan Crowe (Supervisor) & Rachael Field (Supervisor)