Economic Empowerment of Rural Women through Micro-credit Intervention: The Case of Kedida Gamela District, Southern Region, Ethiopia

A study was set out to investigate the extent of rural women's economic empowerment through credit services in Kedida Gamela, District Southern region of Ethiopia. A cross-sectional survey design was used for this specific study. Household surveys, Key Informant Interviews, and Focus Group discussions were used to gather data. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 25 by using multiple linear regression models and descriptive statistics. The economic empowerment of women was significantly affected by demographic, socio-economic, cultural and institutional reasons in the study area. Specifically, multiple linear regressions analysis revealed experience in income-generating activities, the age difference between wife and husband, participation in extension and amount of cumulated loan received as the significant factors determining the economic empowerment of women. The results obtained from focused group discussants and key informants interview also confirmed that women who are credit users are better empowered than non-credit users. Inadequate finance was the prime constraint that limits women’s economic empowerment. The study concludes that the problem associated with women's economic empowerment is pertaining to the issue in the study area. To overcome such problems, effective initiatives should be undertaken by the concerned agencies in improving women`s education, skill acquisition training and access to adequate finance. also, concerted efforts like extension work, the introduction of labor and time-saving technologies along with adequate loan supervision could enhance women's economic empowerment in order to achieve gender equality and development at all levels in the study area. Keywords: Empowerment, Women empowerment, women economic empowerment and microcredit intervention DOI: 10.7176/DCS/9-11-08 Publication date: November 30th 2019