ABASTRACT
In the world a men dominated society, women have always been
underestimated and discriminated in all domains of life be it their family and
social life or their economic and political life. Furthermore, the traditional
duties of managing households make interruptions in their social and economic
empowerment. Over the years various efforts have been made by many Government
and Non-Government organizations to promote women empowerment in general and
especially in rural areas. One such effort is the microfinance intervention.
Many microfinance aims to promote self-sufficiency and economic development
among people who don't have access to the traditional financial sector. They do
this primarily by extending small loans without the strict requirements of
traditional lenders. Recipients are usually the poor and "unbanked," but they
also include people who are not poor but who lack the credit standing to borrow
money to start or grow a business, most of these populations includes women.
This study sought the contribution of microfinance institutions on women
empowerment. It addressed specifically the analysis of the role of microfinance
institutions on women empowerment and their family life in nyaruguru District,
especially in Kibeho, Muganza, Ngera, Cyahinda, Rusenge, Nyagisozi and Ngoma Sectors and it investigated to identify
various determinants of women empowerment in Nyaruguru district. Researcher
took a sample of 64 respondents that were selected from study only target
population made of 919 VFC women clients in Nyaruguru District within 1509
total VFC clients in Nyaruguru including men. The study used both qualitative
and quantitative approaches. The analysis was made via purposive sampling. The
researcher employed analytical method, descriptive methods and synthetic
method. The data collection techniques used includes questionnaire,
documentation, and interview. The study found that all
respondents agreed that after receiving the loan from VFC their income and
saving culture have been increased and their management skills have been
increased after acquiring the loan from VFC Ltd and carrying out their
business, 62.5% confirmed that women economically-developed change gender role
and status within household and community, (95.3%) agreed that most women may
be economically self-sufficiency due to microcredit without the men, 79.7% of
respondents confirmed that Business held by women is competitive with others,
100% agreed that Women empowerment involves the family and community
development have highest the important in the family promotion, 85.9% were
particularly proud of the financial contribution of the loan received to their
empowerment especially in their family, increases personal income, access to
basic needs, and improved welfare of households. The researcher suggested that
Microfinance institutions should try to extend more credit facilities to
clients to expand their businesses. It was also suggested that MFIs should
raise-up the loan amount for supporting the business of their target group. The
Government should provide some fund and subsidies to MFIs in order to help MFIs
delivering financial services at low price.
Abbreviations and Accronyms
PIASS: Protestant institute of arts and social sciences
MFIs: Microfinance institutions
VFC: vision finance company
Ltd: Limited
SMEs: small and medium enterprises
FAO: Food and agriculture organization of the United Nation
UN: united Nations
SEWA: Self Employed Women's Association
WWF: Working Women's Forum
ILO: International Labor Organization
SACCOs: Savings and Credit Cooperatives
EDPRS 2: Second Economic Development and Poverty Reduction
Strategy
EICV: Enquête Intégrale sur les Conditions de Vie
des Ménages (Integrated Household Living Conditions Survey)
MDG: Millennium Development Goals
NISR: National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda
RPHC4: Fourth Rwanda Population and Housing Census (2012)
VUP: Vision 2020 Umurenge Programme
NGOs: Non-Government Organizations
VFC Ltd: Vision Finance Company Limited
CGAP: Certified Government Auditing Professional
Vol.: Volume
SHG: self help group
CIDA: Canadian International Development Agency
RMF: Rwanda Microfinance Forum
MIGEPROF: Ministry of Gender and Women Promotion
NGO: Non-government organization
UNFPA: United Nations Population Fund
UNIFEM: United Nations Development Fund for Women
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