Impact Evaluation of Women’s Health Insurance under the Nigeria for Women Project (NFWP)

The Nigeria for Women Project (NFWP), supported by the World Bank, is designed to improve women’s livelihoods through Women’s Affinity Groups (WAGs) across six states. In Taraba State, the project partnered with the Taraba State Contributory Health Insurance Agency to provide 2,000 free health insurance policies per LGA under the Basic Health Care Provision Fund. This initiative addresses barriers that limit women’s access to healthcare and economic opportunities.

The evaluation seeks to measure how basic health insurance coverage influences women’s healthcare utilization, healthcare spending, and economic activities, while also strengthening local capacity to conduct rigorous impact evaluations.

Surveys were conducted in three rounds with approximately 4,000 WAG members in Bali LGA, alongside facility surveys in nine primary healthcare centers. Tablet based questionnaires were administered in English and Hausa, with strict quality assurance protocols and respondent tracking to minimize attrition.

By May 2026, 3,715 interviews had been completed, representing 92.9 percent of the target sample. Cooperation rates were exceptionally high at 96.6 percent, with minimal attrition largely due to mobility factors rather than refusals. Data quality improved steadily across rounds, with mismatch rates dropping from 10.3 percent in Round 1 to just 2.3 percent in Round 4. These findings provide reliable evidence of the effectiveness of health insurance in improving women’s healthcare access and economic outcomes.