1.2. PROBLEM STATEMENT
Basing on historical background, After the TUTSI genocide of
1994, women in Rwanda took huge responsibilities that made it difficult for
women to be able to hold up themselves in absence of their spouses. This
explain how women are vulnerable to poverty especially those women heading the
family.
According to Adeline K. (2013) In general, Rwanda women make
up the majority of the low income earners, unorganized informal sector of the
economy and bigger number of them are gaps left overdue by the 1994 genocide
tragedy, others are illiterate and have been marginalized by poverty and
negative cultural practices.
According to Finescope Report Rwanda (2016), there is a gender
gap in terms of financial inclusion in Rwanda, which is smaller in comparison
to the rural divide. In general, there are slightly higher levels of financial
inclusion among males compared to females due to a number of reasons (e.g.
economic, social, legal, and cultural).
(Mjomba, 2011) studied the development of micro-finance in
Kenya by specifically considering micro finance on financial empowerment of
women in Kenya. This study though identified the impact of micro financing as
empowering women positively, it majored on Kenya Women Finance Trust and was
also bias to women only.
International aid donors, governments, scholars, and other
development experts have paid much attention to microfinance as a strategy
capable of reaching women and involving them in the development process. The
microfinance industry has made great strides toward identifying barriers to
women's access to financial services and developing ways to overcome those
barriers. The microfinance institutions have been developed to fill these gaps,
with increasing assistance from the various financial institutions and other
donors, microfinance service is emerging as a powerful tool to reduce poverty
and improve access to financial services for the poor women of Rwanda Cheston,
susy Kuhn, Lisa (2002).
It is against this background that the researcher intends to
carry out a study in order to analyze the outreach and impact of microfinance
on the VFC women clients in Rwanda especially those leaving in Nyaruguru
district. The findings will be drawn from an in-depth analysis of data obtained
from microloan delivered to women beneficiaries of VFC Ltd Nyaruguru.
1.3. OBJECTIVES OF STUDY
1.3.1. General objective
To determine the contribution of
microfinance on women empowerment in Rwanda
1.3.2. Specific objectives
· To identify various determinants of
women empowerment in Nyaruguru district.
·
To find out the impact of microcredit in women development.
· To analyze the role of microfinance in family empowerment
by women.
1.4. RESEARCH QUESTIONS
This study was designed to emphasis on the following
questions:
What are the various determinants of women empowerment in
Nyaruguru district?
What is the impact of microcredit to women development?
What is the role of microfinance in family empowerment by
women?
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