Male outmigration and women’s empowerment in rural Tanzania: unpacking the transformation of household decision-making dynamics in Kondoa district
| dc.contributor.author | Nyamonge M. Kenya | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2026-07-09T08:56:12Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2026-07-09T08:56:12Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2026-06 | |
| dc.description | Journal Article | |
| dc.description.abstract | Rural-urban migration continues to reshape household dynamics across Sub-Saharan Africa, yet empirical evidence on how male outmigration influences left-behind women's decision-making authority remains limited, particularly in Tanzania's semi-arid regions where climatic stress exacerbates livelihood vulnerability. This study examined the implications of male rural-urban migration on left-behind women’s participation in household decision-making across 26 villages in Kondoa District, Dodoma Region, Tanzania. Using a mixed-methods convergent parallel design, data were collected from 177 purposively selected left-behind women through semi-structured interviews and from 18 key informants comprising Village Executive Officers and Ward Executive Officers. Quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS version 26, employing descriptive statistics and chi-square tests to examine associations between migration and decision-making patterns, while qualitative data underwent thematic analysis using NVivo version 12. Findings revealed that pre-migration decision-making was predominantly male-controlled (51%, n=90), with only 22% (n=39) of women identifying as primary household decision- makers. Post-migration, participation significantly increased, with 92% (n=163) of women involved in all or most decisions regarding productive activities and income utilization (χ²=24.67, p<0.001), while 89% (n=157) participated in remittance allocation decisions. Thematic analysis indicated enhanced agency, autonomy, and bargaining power, though challenges including limited remittance amounts (Tshs 10,000-20,000/US$4-8 monthly) and persistent patriarchal norms constrained full empowerment. This study contributes empirically by providing quantitative evidence of decision-making shifts in a climatically vulnerable context, and theoretically by extending the Sustainable Livelihood Approach to illuminate how migration-induced household restructuring transforms women’s livelihood outcomes. The findings underscore the need for targeted interventions strengthening women’s financial literacy and access to productive resources, alongside policies recognizing women’s emerging roles in household economic governance. | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://www.suaire.sua.ac.tz/handle/20.500.14820/7715 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.publisher | The Sub Saharan Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities | |
| dc.subject | Rural-urban migration | |
| dc.subject | Left-behind women | |
| dc.subject | Household decision-making | |
| dc.subject | Women’s empowerment | |
| dc.subject | Sustainable Livelihood Approach | |
| dc.subject | Kondoa | |
| dc.subject | Dodoma | |
| dc.subject | Tanzania | |
| dc.title | Male outmigration and women’s empowerment in rural Tanzania: unpacking the transformation of household decision-making dynamics in Kondoa district | |
| dc.type | Article |