Assessing Role of Soft Loans in Reducing Gender Based Violence among Entrepreneurial Women in Muleba District.

Mwakalonge,, Diana Daniel (2025) Assessing Role of Soft Loans in Reducing Gender Based Violence among Entrepreneurial Women in Muleba District. Masters thesis, The Open University of Tanzania.

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Abstract

This study assessed the role of soft loans in reducing gender-based violence (GBV) among entrepreneurial women in Muleba District. Guided by Empowerment Theory and a pragmatic philosophical orientation, the study employed a mixed-methods approach involving 95 participants. Data were collected through structured questionnaires and in-depth interviews, with quantitative data analyzed using SPSS version 27 and qualitative data thematically analyzed using NVivo. Findings revealed that economic violence was the most prevalent form of GBV (37.1%), followed by emotional or psychological abuse (28.6%), physical violence (21.4%), and sexual violence (12.9%). The majority of respondents (89.5%) believed that access to soft loans significantly contributed to reducing GBV. Specifically, 38.2% of women reported increased financial independence, 26.3% experienced reduced household financial stress, and 17.1% gained greater decision-making power at home and in business. Despite these benefits, women entrepreneurs faced several challenges in accessing and utilizing soft loans effectively. Competition from established businesses (43%), limited transport facilities (30%), and male dominance in market spaces (27%) were major barriers to business growth and sustainability. The study concludes that soft loans play a crucial role in empowering women and mitigating GBV through economic independence and improved self-efficacy. It recommends that the government and relevant stakeholders expand access to soft loan programs and integrate complementary initiatives such as financial literacy, business management training, legal education, and gender-sensitive policy reforms to enhance women’s socio-economic empowerment and protection. Keywords: Women Entrepreneurs, Soft Loans, Gender-Based Violence, Women.

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