Agricultural co-operative based project on farmers livelihood: a case of Tubura project in Koairwa, Rwanda

Abstract

The study centred on assessing the contribution of women development fund (WDF) to women economic empowerment in Moshi Municipal. The study specifically intended to examine the awareness of women group members on WDF, determine the income generating activities done by women group members supported by WDF, examine the achievement of WDF on empowerment of women group members and identify challenges facing women group members on accessing WDF. The study adopted cross sectional research design. The sample size of the study was 329 respondents obtained through purposive sampling whereby only women who are in groups in the study area were considered as a unit of analysis. The questionnaire was the main data collection tool while descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression was used as a model for data analysis. The study found that public announcements using Municipal notes boards were used to create awareness to women group members on women development funds. On the other hand, the majority of women groups who got a loan were engaged in pig farming rather than other income generating activities. Women groups reported that various domestic roles were practised following support from WDF, however, the delay of loan and women development fund policy was noted as a challenge. The study concluded that, through WDF loans, beneficiaries attained economic empowerment since, some had attained; access to resource and ownership, improvement of income which ultimately improved household livelihood. The study recommends the WDF that there should be training concerning entrepreneurship skills, business management and how to keep proper records of their business to women groups before and after lending money to effect follow up.