Challenges and opportunities of women economic survival strategies in Tanzania: a case se study of Arusha Women Economic Groups
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Date
2007-09
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Publisher
Kampala International University, College of Humanities and Social Sciences
Abstract
The study considered the economic survival strategies, the challenges women and how they deal with them in Arusha Municipality. The instruments used in the study included questionnaires; focus group discussion guides and records perusal documentary analysis. The category of respondents in the study composed of women economic group members, loan officials, municipality staff in Arusha and community members, all totaling one hundred twenty only (120). The major findings were: Income generating activities, group formation, and involvement of women in leadership and implementation of the revolving fund are the major strategies of the women groups in Arusha Municipality. The challenges that women economic groups face in implementing economic strategies include lack of finance, collateral, skills and conflicts among women group members. The existing challenges can be dealt with through fully involving the beneficiaries in providing solutions using a bottom up approach which is releasable and desirable. It is suggested that involvement in IGAs. Increased government and donor support, review of the policies regarding credit schemes, increasing the training. Literacy and development, increased monitoring and evaluation and financial audits. Increased collective bargaining and negotiation could help mitigate the identified challenges. The major conclusions are as follows: Women economic activities are diverse and unviable, women are unpowered and their access to loans is limited by various internal and external factors that may resource mobilization to alleviate poverty difficult. There are some factors that make it hard for women groups to implement their economic strategies in Arusha. These challenges have social-economic, political and skill dimensions. These obstacles can be removed through collective effort. The coping mechanisms facing women as revealed by the studs tend to make them remain dependants. It may not be clear whether these interventions are feasible in terms of financial, human and material resources. Access to credit has conditionalities, which are prohibitive to potential customers. This trend needs to be reversed.
Description
A research thesis submitted to the school of post graduate studies, in partial fulfillment of the award of the degree of Master of Arts in - development administration and management of Kampala International University
Keywords
Challenges and opportunities, Women economic survival strategies