Limits of Impact

Despite these important, measurable accomplishments, some of the hypothesized impacts of the program were not found in the research by IPA and BARA.¹⁵ Namely, while consump­tion smoothing was clearly happening—as was shown in the improvements in food security over the course of a year, the increase in the value of livestock, and the use of loans throughout the year—total income itself did not increase dur­ing the time period of the study, although it was better dis­tributed throughout the year.¹⁶ Saving for Change increased community-level resilience to cope with seasonal food short­ages by helping members respond to shocks.