Impact of Village Community Banks In Promoting Women’s Economic Empowerment: Case Of Chakechake District, Pemba Southern Region.

Doreen, Bwogi (2025) Impact of Village Community Banks In Promoting Women’s Economic Empowerment: Case Of Chakechake District, Pemba Southern Region. Masters thesis, The Open University of Tanzania.

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Abstract

This research explored the role of Village Community Banks (VICOBA) in advancing women's economic empowerment in the Chakechake District of Pemba‘s Southern Region. The study focused on assessing how VICOBA enhances women's access to financial resources, the obstacles they face in asset ownership and control, and the influence of VICOBA on their participation in household decision-making. Employing a cross-sectional design, the study collected data using open-ended questionnaires from 110 women involved in VICOBA, in-depth interviews with 12 key informants, and a review of relevant documents. Quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS through descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis, while qualitative data were subjected to content analysis to extract major themes. The results indicated that VICOBA significantly improved women‘s access to financial services, enabling them to fulfill basic needs and invest in income-generating ventures. Moreover, it facilitated women‘s ability to own and manage assets through loan accessibility and fostered greater involvement in family decision-making, particularly regarding finances and investments. The study concludes that VICOBA plays a crucial role in empowering women economically within the district. For sustained impact, it recommends enhancing women's continuous engagement in VICOBA, promoting financial education, and supporting income diversification initiatives. Policymakers and development actors are urged to design strategies that address the unique financial needs of women in these community banks to further promote their economic independence. Keywords: Microfinance Institutions, Village Community Bank, Women‘s Economic Empowerment.

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