Women's participation in income generating activities for poverty alleviation

Date

2007

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Southern New Hampshire University

Abstract

In 2002, the Pole Pole Ndiyo Mwendo Women Economic Group was established with 20 women members. The group is situated in Bunju 'A' village at Bunju Ward in Kinondoni Municipal about fifteen miles to the north of Dar es Salaam. One of the main objectives of the group is to reduce poverty among women themselves through their own initiatives, joint efforts, time and resources. However the group aims to improve the standard of living through women economic empowerment and participation which lead to employment creation, income - generation and skill transfer.

The mission statement is to improve the welfare of women in Bunju Ward through initiation of Income Generating Project. This could be done by promoting the education of involving women in development efforts throughout the ward. Their activities are about Income generating activities that is expected to generate some money for the use by the members. Currently, the group is performing the following activities; weekly contribution, small business, gardening and making traditional mats.

This project proposal developed out to assist the members of Women Economic Group and entire Bunju community to improve the living standard of uneducated and poor women who are characterized by low income and expenditure, poor nutritional status, low education attainment, lack of representation and inequitable share of power in household decision-making.

The survey findings revealed that, low level of education and ignorance; lack of working capital and access to credit; inadequate entrepreneurship and application of modern technologies, contribute to low participation of women in economic activities, thus accelerating the low household income and widespread of abject poverty in Bunju community. (Author abstract)

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