The contribution of women development fund (WDF) to poverty reduction in Moshi rural District, Tanzania
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Date
2010
Authors
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
Sokoine University of Agriculture.
Abstract
The main objective of this study was to determine the contribution of Women
Development Fund (WDF) to poverty reduction. Data were collected from six wards
of Moshi Rural District and from the District Community Development Office
offering small scale credit from WDF to women in the District. The specific
objectives were to determine the level of awareness of intended beneficiaries on
WDF, to examine the procedures, requirements and transaction costs for accessing
loans from WDF, to examine how the credit received has been utilized, to compare
the number of assets owned and housing condition before and after receiving credit
from WDF and between those who have accessed credit from WDF and those who
have not. 120 women (60 borrowers and 60 non borrowers), were interviewed using
a structured questionnaire. The analysis was carried out using the Statistical Package
for Social Sciences (SPSS) computer software where means, frequencies and
percentages were established. The cross tab computer sub program was also applied
to determine relationships between and among variables. T-test was also run to
compare socio-economic status of borrowers and non borrowers based on asset
index. The results show that there is a significant difference in assets owned and
therefore socio economic status between beneficiaries of the credit from WDF and
non beneficiaries. The study revealed that women can borrow and use credit to
improve their lives, but the main problems are lack of awareness on the existence of
WDF and lack of business skills which obstruct their opportunity of benefiting from
the WDF. From the study the following are recommended: - training on how to
benefit from credit fund should be given to all beneficiaries and not only to group
leaders, the government should cover the costs of food and transport to the
beneficiaries who are attending the training workshops, seminars and similar sessions
to reduce the loan transaction costs for the intended beneficiaries.
Description
Dissertation
Keywords
Women development, Poverty, Poverty reduction, Moshi rural District, Community development