The effect of conditional transfers on intimate partner violence: evidence from Northern Ecuador

This report by Hidrobo et al. provides evidence on whether cash, vouchers or food transfers targeted at women to reduce food insecurity also affects intimate partner violence in northern Ecuador. The study finds that transfers did reduce controlling behaviour among men and any physical or sexual violence by 6-7 percentage points. The findings suggest that reductions in IPV are due to a combination of improvement in women’s bargaining power and a decrease in poverty-related conflict.