This paper examines the impact of board characteristics—such as size, gender diversity, skills, and meeting frequency—on the financial performance of SACCOSs in Tanzania. The study focused on three financial performance indicators: net loan income, operating efficiency ratio, and deposit-to-asset ratio. Descriptive statistics and linear regression models were used to analyse panel data collected from financial reports of 198 SACCOSs for five years (2014–2018). The results show a positive and significant relationship between financially-skilled board member(s) and the depositto-asset ratio; conversely, they were negatively associated with the operating efficiency ratio. The results further show that board meetings are positively and significantly related to net loan income, whereas board size is positively associated with the operating efficiency ratio. Moreover, the paper found no evidence of a relationship between women’s board members and financial performance. Impliedly, having financially-skilled directors on a board and regular board meetings facilitated financial performance in a SACCOS. Thus, the paper calls for board members to have financial skills, and boards to conduct regular meetings for constructive advice and effective monitoring to boost financial performance.  JEL Classification: G2, G20, G3, G30, G39, M49

This paper reports the findings of a study that had evaluated the influence of board attributes size, gender diversity, skills and meetings on board’s role performance in terms of strategic, resource provision and monitoring roles in SACCOS, Tanzania. Data on the boards’ roles were collected using a questionnaire survey administered to 198 SACCOS boards’ chairpersons. Data for board’s attributes were obtained from annual audited financial reports. Data were then subjected to factor analysis and linear regression models. The results show that board meetings have a positive and significant influence on the boards’ ability to perform strategic, resource provision and monitoring roles. The study further shows that board financial skills have positive and significant effect on strategic and monitoring roles. Impliedly, having a financial skill director on board parallel with board meetings help to stimulate active participation of board members in executing their roles. No evidence, however, was found on the effect of board size and board gender diversity on the board roles’ performance. Thus, the study suggests that financial skills of members needs high prioritization in the election of board members to boost efficiency in performing their board roles. Also, regular board meetings for worthy strategies settings, advice and effective monitoring of the SACCOS.