Contribution of CBOS in poverty reduction among their members in Tanzania: empirical evidence from Hai district
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Date
2014
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
European Journal of Business Management
Abstract
CBOs are voluntary, non-profit and non-governmental organisations that are set up
by collective efforts of local people for their own development. There has been
mushrooming of these organisations in Tanzania since the second half of 1980s after
the implementation of structural adjustment policies. Despite a large volume of
literature in the area of CBOs, little attention has been made towards assessing their
contribution in reduction of poverty. The aim of this study therefore was to assess
contribution of CBOs in reduction of poverty among their members in Tanzania with
special emphasis from Hai District. The study was guided by the Community action
model theory by Freire (1973). A case study design was adopted because of its
advantages in studying more than one case deeply. Hai District was selected as the
study area because it had large number of the CBOs. A sample size of 130
respondents was selected. Simple random sampling technique was applied in
selecting the CBOs and the main respondents. On the other hand, purposive
sampling technique was applied in selecting both the study area and the key
informants. Data for the study were collected using observation, interviews (both
structured and unstructured), focused group discussions and documentary reviews.
Both qualitative and quantitative techniques were applied in analyzing data for this
study as they were found to complement each other. Status of poverty among
members of the CBOs was measured using MPI. Following were the major
conclusions drowned from the study: that a significant number of members of the
CBOs were still MPI poor; Sources of capital for members of the CBOs were both
from the SACCOS and CBOs; Incomes of members increased significantly after
joining the CBOs; and the CBOs were found to contribute significantly in reduction
of poverty among their members by urging them to establish economic activities and
looking for markets of their produces.
Description
European Journal of Business Management, 2(1), 173-189.
Keywords
Poverty reduction, Multidimensional poverty index, Community based organisations, Poverty dimensions, Poverty indicators