Solutions Inventory

Monitoring development programs during COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic led to significant barriers in data collection, especially in understanding women’s economic empowerment. In Zambia, the Supporting Women’s Livelihood (SWL) initiative developed a phone-based monitoring and evaluation system during the pandemic to mitigate its economic effects on women and girls. The SWL initiative provides extremely poor women aged 19 to 64 years with a comprehensive economic inclusion package including savings group facilitation, a productivity grant and phone/SIM card, life and business skills training, and mentorship.