Health and nutrition layering in women’s economic empowerment (WEE) interventions

• Apr 1, 2026
• 2 min

Around the world, women face interconnected challenges related to economic stability, access to healthcare, and nutrition. Development programs often address these needs in isolation, which limits their overall impact and sustainability. 

MSC (MicroSave Consulting) supported the Gates Foundations’ learning agenda on integration of health and nutrition within women’s economic empowerment (WEE) interventions. We built a strong evidence base and identified viable investment pathways for high-impact future programs. 

We mapped 48 interventions implemented by 27 organizations and microfinance institution (MFI) consortia across more than 30 countries to identify programs that integrate women’s economic empowerment with health and nutrition services. We applied filters aligned with the Gates Foundation’s health priorities to shortlist 10 organizations, and then conducted in-depth interviews with these organizations to assess implementation approaches, sustainability, and financing mechanisms. 

The analysis identified four effective models that integrate health and nutrition into WEE programs. Community health worker–led models deliver maternal, newborn, and child health services. These models showed an approximately 25% reduction in neonatal mortality and a 40% to 45% increase in care-seeking for maternal and newborn complications.  

The models that integrate health services within MFIs showed a threefold increase in uptake of preventive screenings and significant improvements in health knowledge. Health financing models delivered through MFIs, banks, and asset platforms increased overall healthcare utilization by 1.6 times and doubled facility-based deliveries. They also reduced catastrophic health expenditure by approximately 30%.  

Poverty graduation programs with integrated health support led to 5% to 8% higher household consumption, around 15% growth in productive assets, and improved household investment in health and nutrition. 

Digital solutions emerged as a cross-cutting enabler across all four models, which include teleconsultations, partnerships with digital health providers, and digital tools for community health workers. These solutions offer scalable pathways to expand integrated service delivery. 

Based on this research, MSC developed a comprehensive framework to guide future investments and program design that provides evidence-backed approaches to layer women’s economic empowerment with health and nutrition services. 

The Gates Foundation commissioned the project.