siyakha nentsha: using mixed methods to measure financial capabilities

Siyakha NentshaBuilding assets and reducing vulnerability in KwaZulu Natal

Making CentsSeptember 8, 2011

Washington, DCEva Roca

General context in

KZN

Setting• Semi-rural KwaZulu Natal– Poverty and income inequality– Unemployment– Early pregnancy– Early school leaving– HIV

Siyakha Nentsha• Schools, facilitators• Boys and girls• Participatory reflective learning,

action-oriented• Accredited• Testable

Preparing for opportunities and risks

HIV and STIs teenage pregnancy early unplanned parenthood

school dropout loss of one or both parentsemployment and training opportunities social grants

social support citizenshiplanguage skills

Randomization

HIV education, social support

+ financial capabilities

HIV education &

social support

Delayed intervention

Attendance rostersLongitudinal survey

FGDs with participants, parents, and mentors

GPS coordinatesInterim data on location, cell phone, statusDiaries

VideoSchool quality assessments

Methods

Special considerations with young people

• Timing• Attention span• Interviewer selection• Legal context

Considerations during M&E tool design

• Who will create/finalize the registers & by when?

• When will these registers be used?

• Who is responsible for ensuring they get completed?

• Who is responsible for analysis/reporting?

• How often/when will the analysis/reporting be done?

• Do you need a monthly/quarterly summary form?

• What information will you need to report to donors or other stakeholder?

Evaluation: what’s the point?• Lofty program goals• Interim steps to achievement• Assets program imparts toward specific ends

• HIV/AIDS and RH: knowledge, skills and behaviors, including adoption of safer sexual behaviors and service use

• Economic skills: ability to plan and manage personal and familial finances, identify and access available services, FET opps, social benefits; articulate a plan for pursuing future livelihood-enhancing opportunities

• Social networks and support: access to friends, adult role models and individuals/groups who can assist with crisis management and provide links to opportunities

Specific Financial capabilities questions

-I have a financial goal (yes/no)

-I am saving money in order to do or buy something specific (yes/no)

-When you have money, do you plan ahead for how to spend it?

-I have savings/ I am saving (yes/no)

-I have some money I keep in case of an emergency (yes/no)

-How much money do you have in your savings?

-Have you ever tried to open a bank account? (if yes, were you successful?)

-Have you ever borrowed money?

Changes seen post-program

• Sexual debut• Secondary abstinence,

fewer partners • Condom confidence• Improved budgeting and planning skills

• Pursuing income-generating activities• Having savings• Social capital• Higher self-esteem• Birth certificate

• Social grants• SA ID

• Gender attitudes

(Siyakha Nentsha) has helped us a lot, because although I had goals before the problem I had is I did not know how to prioritize, like which one should be more important than the other. Now I know that in order to reach my long-term goals, I should have short-term goals, that are going to be the steps toward my goals.”

“Before, if I had money, say maybe I have 50 Rand, I would not check how much, I would just buy and see when I have to pay. But now if I have 50 Rand I have to calculate first, how many things I can get. And how much money I can use and what will remain behind.”

Don’t trust your data too much

“I was helped a lot in the financial setion, because when they came here and they asked us if we knew how to save money, and I lied! I said yes!

…”Then they gave us diaries, so I started writing whenever I save money. Now I can see where the money is going.”

Selected resources

• http://www.popcouncil.org/pdfs/2010PGY_AdolGirlToolkitSection4.pdf• Hallman, K. 2010, in press. “Social exclusion: The gendering of adolescent HIV

risks in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa,” in J. Klot and V. Nguyen eds., The Fourth Wave: An Assault on Women - Gender, Culture and HIV in the 21st Century. Social Science Research Council and UNESCO.

• Hallman, K. 2008.“Researching the determinants of vulnerability to HIV amongst adolescents,” IDS Bulletin, 39(5), November 2008.

• Bruce, J. and Hallman, K. 2008. “Reaching the girls left behind,” Gender & Development, 16(2): 227-245.

• Hallman, K and Roca, E. 2007. “Reducing the social exclusion of girls,” www.popcouncil.org/pdfs/TABriefs/PGY_Brief27_SocialExclusion.pdf

• Hallman, K. 2005. “Gendered socioeconomic conditions and HIV risk behaviours among young people in South Africa,” African Journal of AIDS Research 4(1): 37–50. Abstract: http://www.popcouncil.org/projects/abstracts/AJAR_4_1.html

Thank you!

Our funders: ESRC/Hewlett Joint Scheme& DFID via the ABBA RPC