Economic Empowerment of Rural Women through Micro-credit Intervention: The Case of Kedida Gamela District, Southern Region, Ethiopia

Tseganesh K

doi:10.7176/dcs/9-11-08

Abstract

A study was set out to investigate the extent of rural women's economic empowerment through credit services in Kedida Gamela, District Southern region of Ethiopia. A cross-sectional survey design was used for this specific study. Household surveys, Key Informant Interviews, and Focus Group discussions were used to gather data. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 25 by using multiple linear regression models and descriptive statistics. The economic empowerment of women was significantly affected by demographic, socio-economic, cultural and institutional reasons in the study area. Specifically, multiple linear regressions analysis revealed experience in income-generating activities, the age difference between wife and husband, participation in extension and amount of cumulated loan received as the significant factors determining the economic empowerment of women. The results obtained from focused group discussants and key informants interview also confirmed that women who are credit users are better empowered than non-credit users. Inadequate finance was the prime constraint that limits women’s economic empowerment. The study concludes that the problem associated with women's economic empowerment is pertaining to the issue in the study area. To overcome such problems, effective initiatives should be undertaken by the concerned agencies in improving women`s education, skill acquisition training and access to adequate finance. also, concerted efforts like extension work, the introduction of labor and time-saving technologies along with adequate loan supervision could enhance women's economic empowerment in order to achieve gender equality and development at all levels in the study area. Keywords : Empowerment, Women empowerment, women economic empowerment and microcredit intervention DOI : 10.7176/JESD/11-1-06 Publication date: January 31 st 2020

Highlights

Background of the Study Women's economic authorization is widely known by governments, international development establishments, and businesses globally as essential for human progress, thriving economies, and business success. this can be why gender equality and women's economic authorization is one among key priorities within the 2030 property Development Agenda (BSR, 2017)
General objective The general objective of this study is to assess the economic empowerment of rural women through microcredit intervention
Scope of the Study This study focused on the rural women’s economic empowerment towards improving their means of lives in randomly selected kebeles of Kedida District

Summary

Introduction

Background of the Study Women's economic authorization is widely known by governments, international development establishments, and businesses globally as essential for human progress, thriving economies, and business success. This can be why gender equality and women's economic authorization is one among key priorities within the 2030 property Development Agenda (BSR, 2017). The Inter-American Development Bank (2010) outlined women’s management in terms of ‘’expanding the rights, resources, and capability of girls to create choices and act severally in social, economic, and political spheres’’ (IDB, 2018). The UN characterized women's strengthening regarding five parts:”women’s sense of selfworth; their right to own and confirm choices; their right to own access to opportunities and resources; their right to own the ability to manage their own lives, each inside and out of doors the home; and their ability to influence the direction of social amendment to form a additional social and economic order, across the country and internationally” (UN, 2011). Girls in SSA deliver the goods eighty-seven percent of male human development outcomes, because of fewer viable economic opportunities, lower quality of health, and lower education attainment (UNDP, 2016)

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