Enhancing Sustainability of women economic groups through business management skills training

A Community Economic Development (CED) related project was developed based on identified problems through Community Needs Assessment and survey which incorporated focal person questionnaires, focus group discussions, observation and documentary review. Low income identified among the four problems as a first priority problem through pair wise ranking tool. However, the exercise was extended to HTK Mama Kwanza women group which was the host organization to this project; “Enhancing sustainability of HTK mama kwanza through business management skills training”. Seven project activities implemented on income generating activities, entrepreneurial skills, business management and Gender issues through meetings and trainings. The main objective of the project was to increase sustainable economic and social status of women with their families through enhanced income generating capacity, awareness on gender and HIV/AIDS related issues by 2013. The survey findings revealed that, low level of education and ignorance; lack of working capital and access to credit; inadequate entrepreneurship and application of modern technologies, contribute to low participation of women in economic activities. Project achievements are including notable respect from their husbands due to contributions of women brings at home, the group keeps records of IGA properly, running food and fruit processing machines profitably, three new IGA groups formulated in the ward and acquisition of a plot for construction of their own small food processing house. Sustainability of income generating activities (IGAs) is not an individual process but collective one, involving many actors in addition to the group members themselves. In overcoming women problems, there is no single, smooth and simple solution. The CED project has done partly so in sustaining the situation all actors should play their parts participatory.

Level dc:type.qualificationlevel

masters

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

The Open University of Tanzania

Year dc:date.issued

2013

Author dc:creator

• Gimbi, Norman

• 330 Economics

Language dc:language

en