Evaluation of a Community Development Program in Nepal: A Propensity Score Analysis

Objective: This study aims to evaluate the impact of a community development program meant to improve living standards of poor rural families through income generating activities (IGAs) based on conditional cash transfers (CCTs) in Doti, Nepal. Method: We use cross-sectional field data from a sample of 392 families representative of the village development committees of Pokhari, Ladagada, and Gajari. After running a propensity score analysis to increase comparability between the treatment and comparison groups, we compare mean scores on a series of chosen outcome variables via t-test analyses. Results: Results suggest that, although improvements in family income and living standards are felt subjectively, crop production might have worsened as a result of IGAs, suggesting the possibility of a trade-off and of long-term effects. Discussion and Implications: This article has implications for research and practice in community development programs and data collection and evaluation of such programs.