PDF Ebook Empowering Credit - More Than Just Money
This study examines the socio-economic impact of micro-finance on urban female micro-entrepreneurs in Nairobi, Kenya. Its theoretical framework is empowerment theory in particular and development theories in general. The study examines the impact of micro finance and the opportunities it offers to female micro entrepreneurs in the informal sector, and whether credit has an integrating or segregating effect on women’s socio economic situation. Moreover, the study addresses the ways in which micro-finance and credit have affected social and economic equality between the genders, and whether they have relieved women’s gender specific problems. In addition, this study considers the extent to which the expectations these particular female entrepreneurs have of micro finance are fulfilled. The practical objective of my study is to clarify how micro entrepreneurs have benefited from credit and financial services, how they have used the loans, and how borrowers have repaid the loans. In the analysis, social and economic empowerment are seen to be interrelated; social empowerment is thought to attribute to economic empowerment and vice versa.
Income-earning activities were necessary for women in the empirical data, because being a single mother or the sole breadwinner of the family is common. Therefore, many micro finance institutes emphasise loans given to women. Female micro-entrepreneurs used their loans most often for buying stock. Women considered that this reduced their daily workloads and increased their income.
Control over credit and the business is seen to be an important indicator of empowerment. In the African context female micro-entrepreneurs’ control over their business and loans is not as problematic as in the Asian context. The interviewed women made the decisions in their enterprises and had control over their businesses.
Related activities play important roles in the success of micro-finance programmes and their ability to contribute to women’s empowerment. Particularly a solidarity group and personal contacts with credit officers are crucial for social and economic empowerment.
CONTENTS:
Abbreviations
Acknowledgements
1. Introduction to Micro-Finance and Women’s Empowerment
2. Methodology
3. Women and Development
- 3.1 From Sex to Gender
3.2 Approaches to Gender and Development
- 3.2.1 Women in Development and Women and Development
3.2.2 Gender and Development
4. Empowerment and Power
- 4.1 What Is Empowerment
- 4.1.1 From Power to Empowerment
4.1.2 Defining Empowerment
4.1.3 Empowerment as the Ability to Make Choices
4.1.4 Empowerment and Agency
4.2 The Dimensions of Women’s Empowerment
- 4.2.1 The Elements and Levels of Empowerment
4.3 The Indicators of Empowerment
5. Women and Economic Activities
- 5.1 Economic Activities and Empowerment
5.2 Control over Key Resources
5.3 Women and Self-Employment
5.4 Survival (Stability) or Growth
6. Micro-Finance
- 6.1 Women and Micro-Finance.
6.2 Approaches to Micro-Finance and Poverty
7. The Informal Sector
- 7.1 Women and the Informal Sector
7.2 The Economy and the Jua Kali Sector in Kenya
7.3 The Urban Area
8. Some Micro-Finance Organisation in Nairobi
- 8.1 K-ReP
8.2 Jamii Bora Trust
8.3 World Vision Kenya
9. Experiences from Nairobi
- 9.1 The Women’s Background
9.2 The Business
9.3 The Use of Micro-credit
9.4 Social and Economic Empowerment
9.5 Related Activities
- 9.5.1 The Role of Savings
9.5.2 The Solidarity Group
10. Concluding Remarks
References
Appendix
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