Effect of self-help group practices on poverty levels of women in Machakos County
Date
2022
Authors
Kioko, Mary
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Strathmore University
Abstract
Self-help groups are becoming increasingly important as a means of organizing women to take action and transform their situations, and they are believed to be the driving force towards the goal of economic independence. There has, however, been inconclusive evidence on the role they have played in stimulating poverty levels of women, which has been a challenge in both developed and developing economies. Thus, this study evaluated and examined the effect of self-help group practices on poverty levels of women in Machakos County, Kenya. The study sought to establish the effect of entrepreneurial training, self-help group financial accessibility, self-help group marketing collaboration practices that self-help groups facilitate, and the influence of socio-economic factors on poverty levels of women. The study was grounded on the empowerment theory and the theory of group cohesion. The research used a descriptive correlational research design to examine the relationship in the study variables. According to the Machakos County Social Works office, there are 408 women-self-help groups within the county. These self-help groups targeted the population of the study, with the chairpersons in the groups being the unit of observation. Through applying the Yamane formula, the sample size for this study was 201 self-help group leaders. The research applied a structured questionnaire in the data collection with collected research data analyzed using descriptive, correlation, and regression analysis. The findings were presented using bar graphs, tables, and charts. The study was able to obtain a 69% response rate which is accepted as a representative of the population. Correlation tests established that there exists a positive relationship between the study variables comprising entrepreneurial training, financial accessibility, marketing collaboration and poverty levels of women. The study determined that self-help group entrepreneurial training predicted 23.8 percent of changes in poverty levels of women, self-help group financial accessibility predicted 19.1 percent of changes in poverty levels of women and that self-help group market collaboration predicted 11.6 percent of changes in poverty levels of women. Together, these practices accounted for 54 percent of the changes in poverty levels of women. The study thus concludes that there is a positive and significant effect of SHG practices on poverty levels of women in Machakos County. Conclusions were that engaging in training practices, facilitating financial accessibility, and promoting collaboration led to improved economic empowerment of group members. The study recommends strategic periodic training on leadership and income-generating activities as this has been associated with improved managerial decision-making. The study recommends that SHGs increase financial training of their members as this would increase awareness about various credit facilities, financial incentives, and subsidies that would increase members’ independence. The study also recommends that SHG leaders work to establish concrete partnerships with government officials and associate stakeholders as these promote market access and knowledge.
Description
A Research dissertation submitted to the Strathmore University Business School in partial fulfillment for the Master of Science in Development Finance of Strathmore University
Keywords
Poverty levels of women, Entrepreneurial training, Financial accessibility, Marketing collaboration