The aim of the paper is to establish the mediating role of teachers’ self-efficacy in the relationship between teachers’ job satisfaction and teachers’ commitment of primary school teachers in Malaysia. Although several scholars have established the relationship between teachers’ commitment and job satisfaction, this is the first study that tests the mediating effect of self-efficacy in the relationship of job satisfaction and teachers’ commitment in primary schools in Malaysia using motivation-hygiene theory. The research study used a validated questionnaire on a sample of 984 teachers and the research questions in the study were addressed by using structural equation modelling. The findings were that self-efficacy significantly mediated the relationship between primary school teachers’ commitment and job satisfaction, both teachers’ commitment and self-efficacy had significant and direct impacts on the job satisfaction of primary school teachers and the presence of self-efficacy enhanced teachers’ commitment and improved the job satisfaction of primary school teachers in Malaysia. It is clear that teachers needed to be communicated on the importance of having greater self-efficacy for better commitment and job satisfaction. As the study used a cross-sectional research design that was quantitative-oriented, in future, interviews could be adopted for a more inductive examination of teachers’ job satisfaction, self-efficacy and commitment. The primary schools in Malaysia should consider the role of self-efficacy in improving job satisfaction among teachers in Malaysia by adopting strategies that would enhance teachers’ self-efficacy so as to spur them to perform better at their jobs.

Purpose This study aims to identify the involuntary barriers of financial inclusion which are affecting the usage of Islamic microfinance services in PROCAPEC institution located in Nouakchott-Mauritania. Subsequently, it also examines the effect of gender as a moderator in the model. Design/methodology/approach Primary data was collected through a cross-sectional questionnaire from 381 beneficiaries of PROCAPEC – a major Islamic microfinance provider in Mauritania. In methodology, the study uses confirmatory factor analysis to identify relevant involuntary factors affecting usage, followed by structural equation modelling to test the impact of these factors on the usage of Islamic microfinance (IsMF) products. Findings Two of the four factors are statistically significant in affecting the usage of IsMF products, namely, affordability and eligibility. Gender is a moderator in the relationship between affordability and usage, as well as eligibility and usage. Practical implications Policymakers, practitioners and managers of Islamic microfinance institutions can consider these factors and focus on strategies, including pricing and promotion, which aim to further develop the Islamic microfinance industry in Mauritania. Also, reducing documentation required from clients and adopting lenient rules to provide suitable products will enhance the use of IsMF products, which may lead to more customers’ attraction. Originality/value Although several researchers have articulated financial inclusion, this study sheds light on a specific dimension of financial inclusion to determine the factors impacting IsMF products’ usage. In Mauritania, there are few studies about microfinance. This study will be amongst the pioneer contribution to the geographical gap.

This study aims to identify factors affecting willingness to use Islamic microfinance products in Mauritania . Based on the experience of the Islamic microfinance institution PROCAPEC-Nouakchott, the study tests the effect of social barriers, religiosity, and debt-phobia in affecting the respondents' usage. As well as testing the moderator effect of gender on relationships in the model. The study uses cross-sectional design data gathered through a questionnaire from a sample of 381 beneficiaries of an Islamic microfinance institution (PROCAPEC). It uses Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to determine the impact of the voluntary factors on the use of Islamic microfinance products . The study finds that social barriers have a significant effect on the use of Islamic products ; however, religiosity and debt-phobia did not impact the usage of Islamic microfinance products . Gender has a moderator effect on the relationship between social barriers and usage. Nonetheless, gender does not have a moderator effect on the relationship between debt-phobia and usage and religiosity and usage. The findings are useful for the policymakers and managers of Islamic microfinance to consider the suitability strategies of awareness to patronize Islamic microfinance products voluntarily.

This paper attempts to determine the effect of the use of Islamic microfinance (IsMF) products on Mauritanians' income, education, and healthcare, as well as the gender invariance in the model. The article uses cross-sectional design data gathered through a questionnaire from a sample of 381 beneficiaries of the largest IsMF institution in Mauritania, PROCAPEC-Nouakchott. Using the Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) method, the results found that the use of IsMF products has a significant impact on the income level; however, it did not significantly impact children's education and healthcare. Gender has no moderator effect on the relationships in the model.

Poverty is a severe problem, particularly in third world countries. Since reducing poverty is the first goal of Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations, it is the concern of numerous organizations and governments. This chapter is a conceptual paper that discusses the effectiveness of microfinance in eradicating poverty. The main purpose of this chapter is to present the current situation of poverty in Mauritania and the prospect to alleviate it through Islamic microfinance and financial inclusion. It also attempts to propose new suggestions for the Mauritanian government to alleviate poverty and increase people's wellbeing. It has been concluded that Islamic microfinance can reduce poverty in Mauritania. Thus, this research recommends policymakers and managers of Islamic microfinance to enhance the outreach of microfinance institutions to reach a large segment of vulnerable people. This study is among the pioneers in the field of Islamic microfinance in Mauritania, so it fills up this gap in the literature and adds new theoretical discussion to the topic worldwide.