Self-help groups and women empowerment: developing a framework for sustainability of SHGs

Purpose This study examines the research landscape on women empowerment and self-help groups (SHGs) using bibliometric analysis and network cluster analysis. It also intends to create a model that prioritizes the sustainability of women-led SHGs in order to promote women’s empowerment. Design/methodology/approach A list of keywords relating to women empowerment and SHGs was employed as a search strategy to highlight current research characteristics and trajectories. The analysis included 397 Web of Science (WoS) and Scopus papers over a period of 20 years from 2003 to 2022. Findings The analysis indicated an upward trend in the number of publications over the last decade, with India emerging as the most prolific contributor. Furthermore, the network clustering technique facilitated the identification of five central clusters that guide future research. Practical implications This study informs policymakers and microfinance institutions about the sustainability of women-led SHGs by empowering women in multiple capacities, including implementing inclusive microfinance for poverty alleviation; promoting nutritional empowerment for women in SHGs; capacity building and entrepreneurial training; evaluating the socioeconomic impact of SHGs in developing contexts; and fostering social capital and inclusive networking for community development. Originality/value This research employed Scopus and WoS databases to encompass a wider range of indexed journals. The contribution lies in proposing new research directions and providing practical solutions for sustainability of women-led SHGs to achieve women empowerment.