The contribution of women development fund (WDF) to poverty reduction in Moshi rural District, Tanzania

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Date

2010

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

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

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