Sharew, Muleta (2008) The Implication of Microfinance on Empowering Women and Sustainable Livelihood: A Case Study at Oromiya Credit and Saving Share Company in Hitosa Woreda, Arsi Zone. Masters thesis, Addis Ababa University.
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Abstract
The objective of this thesis is to probe the implication of OCSSCO on women’s empowerment and sustainable livelihood in Hitosa woreda, Arsi zone, Oromiya region. Generally, microfinance intervention programs have an explicit potential that intends to empower women and affect their livelihoods. Nevertheless, did these microfinance programs bring the intended contributions for and implications on empowering women and their sustainable livelihood? Offering some possible responses to this question is the central objective of this research. The results could have considerable significance for academia, MFIs, to build on growing body of research on the topic and others. The control group method was used as general approach to assess the contribution of micro-credit programs on the lives of women in the selected woreda. Further, the mixed method or the blending of both qualitative and quantitative methods was used. In the qualitative method the case study, FGD, Key informant and direct observation were used whereas in the quantitative method the household survey was used. The later method with randomly selected 100 clients was served as supplementary to the former. Descriptive, table and percentage techniques were used for analysis. The role of OCSSCO is significant in terms of empowering women clients with respect to increasing control over resources, self-esteem, respect from others, change in social position and increased community participation. OCSSCO’s programs have enabled its clients to build resilience against vulnerability to unintended risks and shocks and undesired livelihood outcomes through introducing coping mechanisms such as intensification and diversification of livelihood activities. This MFIs’ contribution for empowering women and sustainable livelihood could also create self-sustenance for MFIs themselves. Nevertheless, microfinance services are not still free of constraints. Indeed, they are still facing overlapping categories of challenges that could prevent them from attaining anticipated goals in full. The first group of challenges exists at a community or governmental level. They encompass low infrastructure, conducive and appropriate policies, land shortage and infertility and cultural problems. The second group of constraints exists at organizational level. They include lack of career structure and incentive system and lack of resources. The third category is at individual level. The challenges include inadequacy of transportation, lack of information, low literacy, low competency, lack of hardworking and commitment, business failure, inflexible repayment schedule and inadequacy of group lending policies, limited products and insufficient loan size. Indeed, it could be difficult to draw a boundary to delimit these challenges as aforesaid. Instead, they can be intermingled and amalgamated to make huge effect on process of women’s empowerment and creating their sustainable livelihood through microfinance services. Therefore, economic activities are not the only vehicle for helping women to escape from poverty and advancing gender equality and empowerment. There needs to be a combination of activities in various spheres of women‘s life such as “Soft” service and cooperation of three main stakeholders (government, MFIs and individual users). However, when and how these remedial actions would be realized synergically and cooperatively remains a research agenda in its own right.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Masters) |
|---|---|
| Subjects: | H Social Sciences > HJ Public Finance H Social Sciences > HM Sociology H Social Sciences > HQ The family. Marriage. Woman |
| Divisions: | Africana |
| Depositing User: | Tim Khabala |
| Date Deposited: | 26 Jun 2018 13:23 |
| Last Modified: | 26 Jun 2018 13:23 |
| URI: | http://thesisbank.jhia.ac.ke/id/eprint/4622 |
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