<p>The FAO’s Social Protection and Rural Women’s Economic Empowerment research programme of the Food and Agriculture Organization of th e United Nations (FAO) falls under FAO’s Strategic Objective 3 of Reducing Rural Poverty and is delivered through two flagship initiatives: the Rural Women’s Economic Empowerment Initiative (RWEE) and the From Protection to Production (PtoP) programme. The research seeks to gain a better understanding of how social protection policies and programmes can be improved to enhance impacts on rural women’s empowerment. The programme also aims at identifying ways in which social protection schemes or systems can be strengthened with regard to reducing gender inequalities and improving rural women’s economic and social empowerment, actions which can lead to more sustainable pathways out of poverty.</p><p>A number of case studies will analyse the impact of social protection programmes on rural women’s economic empowerment, particularly in two domains: economic advancement and power and agency. The case studies will also assess the impact of programme design on these two domains, as well as the degree to which gender equality and women’s empowerment are mainstreamed in programme design and implementation. Finally, to a lesser extent, the programme will assess the synergies that these programmes have with rural services and other livelihoods interventions.</p><p>Based on previous experience from the PtoP, the case studies are conducted using a mixed – method approach that combines qualitative and quantitative methods. To achieve comparability and enable cross – country analysis, the research methods are being implemented systematically across countries. This Qualitative Research Guide describes in detail the sequencing, timing and methodology of the research process to be implemented in each country of study: training, fieldwork preparation, a simple and clear fieldwork roadmap, the theory of change hypotheses for the studies, guiding questions and research tools. The Guide will be used for conducting qualitative research as part of this programme and will also serve as a basis for future FAO research on women’s empowerment and agriculure</p>