ABSTRACT
Women Socio-cultural
Organization play an important role in enabling rural women to achieve economic
empowerment through poverty alleviation. The general aim of this study was to
determine the contribution of Women Socio-cultural Organization in the empowerment
of rural women. In a bid to achieve this objective, the study sought to assess
the achievements of these groups in increasing women access and control of
economic resources, in assisting women contribute towards economic decisions at
the household and community level, and in enabling women access credit and
business services. The study also looked at the hindrances to the group’s
performance. The study was conducted in Oyi Local Government Area, in Anambra
State and focused on registered Women Socio-cultural Organization. In its
design, the study adopted a survey research design, use of random sampling and
purposive sampling of cases. Data was collected using interview schedule and
key informant interviews. Qualitative data was analysed through content
analysis whereas quantitative data was analysed using figures and tables. The
study revealed that the groups were averagely contributing towards the economic
empowerment of rural women in the region. In its findings, the study showed
that the groups had averagely played a part in advancing the economic growth of
women through improving their accessibility to economic resources at the family
and community level. The study also showed that the groups had played a role in
enabling women make decision at the family and community level as well as in
helping them access credit facilities. However, the study also revealed that
there were constraints limiting the relevant groups functionality and they
include; lack of proper accessibility to information; family interference on
groups’ performance; strict rules imposed by financial institution on loan
application; poor leadership in the groups; laxity and prejudice from
government officials especially in disbursing funds; low education level
amongst group members and lack of leadership training on group leaders. The
study recommended the need for more entrepreneurship training for women as this
will enable them raise their incomes. There is also need for capacity building
on women so that they can grow their businesses into profitable enterprises.
The study further recommended diversification of income generating activities
by Women Socio-cultural Organization and need for government, private
organizations and community members to inculcate a cultural orientation that recognizes
women and position in society.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study
The social,
economic, political and cultural empowerment of women has received great
attention on global arena. Numerous conventions have been drawn up to advance
the development of women. These efforts are informed by the multiple challenges
women and girls face and realization that women are the key to pulling society
out of poverty. As observed by the 1975 conference on women in Mexico, the
challenges faced by women are the same challenges faced by society and the
political, economic and social conditions are an important benchmark in women
empowerment (United Nations, 1976).
During the 1980
conference in Copenhagen it was noted that significant progress had been made
in women development, but more efforts were still required to fully address the
plight of women. Due to recognition of importance of gender equality the UN in
1984 established UNIFEM as a separate fund of the United Nations Development
Programme (UNDP) to address issues of gender equality (World Economic Forum,
2005). In 1985, at third women conference held in Anambra, it was noted that
the number and scope of activities in women empowerment had grown (United
Nations, 1986). The 1995 conference on
women in Beijing further identified important issues in women empowerment and
they were: equal access to economic resources including land, credit, science
and technology; vocational training; access to information; communication and
markets (United Nations, 2012).
Resulting from
meetings held by UN and state nations, international instruments and treaties
aimed at the improvement of women have been developed. Most importantly is the
Convention on the Elimination of all Discrimination against Women (CEDAW)
adopted in 1979 which is regarded as the bill of rights for women (UN Women,
2006). Other conventions and treaties address elimination of violence, equal
remuneration, discrimination, education, marriage and exploitation. The
international platform has therefore laid proper foundation for continents and
countries to effectively empower their female population. These treaties have
not merely helped governments and other actors to come up with and implement
policies, but have also enabled local women to proactively adopt initiatives
like Women Socio-cultural Organization to enhance efforts towards empowerment.
These groups have since taken a global role because of their key importance in
unifying women to achieving empowerment.
The level of
self-help groups in Nigeria grew exponentially and by the mid-1980s it is estimated
that there were about 15,000 – 20,000 self-help groups in the country. The
figures have continued to rise and the country has more than 800, 000
registered Women Socio-cultural Organization. These groups play a major role in
linking women tap on opportunities, accorded to them by the said governmental
and nongovernmental actors. This therefore, makes Women Socio-cultural
Organization an important entity in empowering women in Nigeria. A good example is the Kenda Posho Mill
project which has been in operation since 1988 and has successfully helped
women improve their economic status. In nyeri also, a women’s dairy project has
been reported to have advanced the economic status of their members (Republic
of Nigeria, 1997c). The groups are said
to enable women pool their resources together, influence their lives and those
of their families (Were, 1985)
Women have been
side-lined from fully participating in economic, social and political
activities, despite them playing important roles such as being mothers,
teachers, nurses, farmers and other professional undertakings pivotal in
society. This has usually been manifested by low political representation,
retrogressive cultural practices, unequal labour rights, lack of participation
in decision making, lack of property ownership rights and lack of access to
education. The net effect of this has been to confine women to poverty and
socio-economic insecurity (UN Women, 2007). The rise of Women Socio-cultural
Organization has been recognized as one of the most effective means of
transforming society through women by the international community. These groups
are very important in reducing poverty levels amongst women by enabling them to
have control over economic resources, make economic decisions at household and
community level as well as enabling them have access to credit and business
facilities. They also act as unifying factors, bringing women together with an
aim of empowering them.
With
the number of Women Socio-cultural Organization rising in Nigeria, the benefits
are expected to contribute significantly to the empowerment of women. About
20,000 Women Socio-cultural Organization had been registered by July 2013,
Ministry of Labour (2013), a significant rise compared to 135,294 groups
registered in 2005 as indicated by Nokia Research Centre (2009). In Anambra
State, there are more than 5,000 registered Women Socio-cultural Organization
geared towards economic empowerment of women in the region. (Oyi District
Strategic Plan 2005 – 2010). However,
inequalities pitied against women ought to be addressed extensively by such
groups still exists in rural societies regardless of their continued rise.
These inequalities include: inability of women to fully have access and control
over important economic resources at the household and community level; low
economic decision making at the household and community level; limited
enterprise ownership among others (Kiraka, Kobia and Katwalo 2013; Nyanjom,
2011; Mbatiah, 2010; Nigeria National Bureau of Statistics and ICF Macro, 2010;
Institute of Economic Affairs Nigeria, 2008; World Bank, 2008).
The study sought to
answer the following research questions.
1. Have
Women Socio-cultural Organization improved women’s access and control over
economic resources?
2. To
what extent have Women Socio-cultural Organization enabled women make economic
decision at the household and community level
3. To
what extent have Women Socio-cultural Organization enabled women to access
credit and business services?
4. What
constraints do Women Socio-cultural Organization face in the effort to empower
women?
The purpose of the
study was to analyze the contribution of rural Women Socio-cultural
Organization in the economic empowerment of women in Anambra State, Oyi Local
Government Area, .
The specific
objectives were:
1. To
assess the contribution of Women Socio-cultural Organization in increasing
women access to and control of economic resources at the household and
community level.
2. To
evaluate the contribution of Women Socio-cultural Organization in enabling
women to participate in decisions making at the household and community level
3. To
assess the contribution of Women Socio-cultural Organization in the enabling
women to access credit and business facilities.
4. To
investigate the constraints Women Socio-cultural Organization face in their
effort to effectively empower women.
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Item Type: Project Material | Size: 83 pages | Chapters: 1-5
Format: MS Word | Delivery: Within 30Mins.
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