小額信貸在甘比亞父權農村對婦女之影響- 在甘比亞Nianija及Kudan地區之案例研究，著眼於SDF貸款的婦女受益人

Abstract

Micro finance is a relatively new term, but as a concept it is well established. Its origin can be traced back to 1976, when Muhammad Yunus set up the Grameen Bank, as experiment, on the outskirts of Chittagong University campus in the village of Jobra, Bangladesh. Since the first Micro credit Summit in Washington in February 1997, micro credit has blossomed and captured the attention of the development world and beyond. That attention is fully justified because micro credit has proven to be one of the most effective instruments in reaching the very poor. Micro finance is now being considered as one of the most important and an effective mechanism for poverty alleviation. These are also effective mechanisms through which to disseminate precious information on ways to improve the health, education, legal rights, sanitation and other living standards, which are of relevant concerns for the poor. Above all, many micro-credit programs have targeted one of the most vulnerable groups in society – women, who live in households with little or almost no assets. By providing opportunities for self-employment, many studies have concluded that these programs have significantly improved women security, autonomy, self-confidence and status within the household. The empowerment of women is also the basis for transforming lives at the household level and in the wider society. In this regard, the delivery of micro finance is one of the approaches to the empowerment of women. This study has the objective of assessing the impact of micro finance in the empowerment of rural women in The Gambia. It recognizes the multidimensional nature of empowerment as a process involving personal, social and economic dimensions. The research was conducted in Nianija and Kudan District in The Gambia, focusing on women beneficiaries of the social development fund loans.