Micro-Credit, Poverty and Empowerment: Linking the Triad

Burra, Neera; Deshmukh-Ranadive, Joy; Murthy, Ranjani K.

doi:10.4135/9788132102137

Cited by 24 publications

(16 citation statements)

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“…Previous research has assessed the impact of access to microfinance services on different components of women’s beliefs about their personal strength. Specifically, it has examined self-esteem (e.g., Stromquist, 1995 ; Basargekar, 2009 ; Kato and Kratzer, 2013 ), control beliefs (e.g., Morgan and Coombes, 2013 ; Hansen, 2015 ), self-confidence ( Burra et al, 2005 ; Kim et al, 2007 ), and self-efficacy (e.g., Kato and Kratzer, 2013 ). We refer to these components as personal empowerment as they assess different psychological aspects about personal beliefs and actions.…”

Section: Women’s Empowerment In the Context Of Microfinance Servicesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Further research in this field showed that women reported higher levels of self-esteem (e.g., Stromquist, 1995 ; Basargekar, 2009 ; Kato and Kratzer, 2013 ), stronger internal control beliefs (e.g., Morgan and Coombes, 2013 ; Hansen, 2015 ), and increased self-confidence ( Burra et al, 2005 ; Kim et al, 2007 ). Overall, research investigating the impact of microfinance services showed mostly positive impacts for personal empowerment with respect to individual choice.…”

Section: Women’s Empowerment In the Context Of Microfinance Servicesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A Three-Dimensional Model of Women’s Empowerment: Implications in the Field of Microfinance and Future Directions

et al. 2017

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Women’s empowerment is an important goal in achieving sustainable development worldwide. Offering access to microfinance services to women is one way to increase women’s empowerment. However, empirical evidence provides mixed results with respect to its effectiveness. We reviewed previous research on the impact of microfinance services on different aspects of women’s empowerment. We propose a Three-Dimensional Model of Women’s Empowerment to integrate previous findings and to gain a deeper understanding of women’s empowerment in the field of microfinance services. This model proposes that women’s empowerment can take place on three distinct dimensions: (1) the micro-level, referring to an individuals’ personal beliefs as well as actions, where personal empowerment can be observed (2) the meso-level, referring to beliefs as well as actions in relation to relevant others, where relational empowerment can be observed and (3) the macro-level, referring to outcomes in the broader, societal context where societal empowerment can be observed. Importantly, we propose that time and culture are important factors that influence women’s empowerment. We suggest that the time lag between an intervention and its evaluation may influence when empowerment effects on the different dimensions occur and that the type of intervention influences the sequence in which the three dimensions can be observed. We suggest that cultures may differ with respect to which components of empowerment are considered indicators of empowerment and how women’s position in society may influence the development of women’s empowerment. We propose that a Three-Dimensional Model of Women’s Empowerment should guide future programs in designing, implementing, and evaluating their interventions. As such our analysis offers two main practical implications. First, based on the model we suggest that future research should differentiate between the three dimensions of women’s empowerment to increase our understanding of women’s empowerment and to facilitate comparisons of results across studies and cultures. Second, we suggest that program designers should specify how an intervention should stimulate which dimension(s) of women’s empowerment. We hope that this model inspires longitudinal and cross-cultural research to examine the development of women’s empowerment on the personal, relational, and societal dimension.

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Section: Women’s Empowerment In the Context Of Microfinance Servicesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Women’s Empowerment In the Context Of Microfinance Servicesmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Three-Dimensional Model of Women’s Empowerment: Implications in the Field of Microfinance and Future Directions

et al. 2017

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“…The literature provides mixed evidence about the impact of collective action on women empowerment. On the one hand, collective action may benefit the already well-off, thereby entrenching the impoverishment of marginalized groups (see, e.g., Burra, Deshmukh-Ranadive, and Murthy 2005). On the other hand, collective action has been found to hold manifold benefits that strengthen the position of women (Tesoriero 2006;Acharya et al 2007;Swain and Wallentin 2009;De Hoop et al 2014).…”

Section: Empowerment and Collective Actionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Women Empowerment Through Self-Help Groups: The Bittersweet Fruits of Collective Apple Cultivation in Highland Ethiopia

Alemu

Kempen

Ruben

2018

Journal of Human Development and Capabilities

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This paper deals with the impact of self-help groups (SHGs) in apple production on empowering women in the Chencha district of Southern Ethiopia. Impact is traced on the basis of a cross-sectional survey among SHG members and nonmembers, using propensity score matching. Apart from the attitudinal changes among SHG and non-SHG women, we also scrutinize differences in male attitudes concerning the status of women. The results point towards positive and significant impacts of SHG participation on empowerment at the community level, which suggests that SHGs offer an effective space for women to share information and raise awareness about their rights. This could in turn be harnessed collectively to negotiate more "room to maneuver" in the community. At the same time, however, the data hint at negative effects from group participation at the household level. The attitudinal differences between treatment and control group indicate more conflictive relations between spouses, arguably due to an intensified fight to assert control over household resources. Hence, the evidence is consistent with a potential "backlash effect" from husbands.

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“…Within this context, United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA) integrate micro credit into their programmes in countries where lack of access to small loans is identified as an obstacle to the improvement of the situation of women and Children. In Ghana, as in many other countries, ensuring women's access to credit through microcredit schemes is a major component of poverty alleviation and women's empowerment strategies (Burra et al, 2005).…”

Section: Background Of the Studymentioning

confidence: 99%

An Evaluation of the Operations of Micro-credit Schemes in Poverty Alleviation of the Rural People in Northern Ghana - Case Study of Ghanaian-Danish Community Programme (GDCP)

Mahama

2020

IJTMR

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The purpose of the study was to examine the sustainability of poverty alleviation activities, utilisation of the funds, the adequacy of credit given to the beneficiaries, level of savings and the degree of attention given to non-income-related issues. The study used questionnaires to capture responses of beneficiaries of the Ghanaian Danish Community Programme (GDCP) Micro-credit scheme as well as secondary data from the annual financial reports and statements of the scheme. The data were analysed with the ratios of the interest income to operational cost, operational cost to loans disbursement to arrive at operational sustainability and cost of money lent respectively. Tables and charts were used to provide the pictorial analysis of the interest income and the operational cost. The study revealed that the schemes were on course to sustainability but were characterized by high operational costs because of the nature of their activities. The study also revealed that the credit services provision had a positive impact on the beneficiaries overall lives, family nutrition and savings and there was evidence of proper utilisation of the funds. These merits were however, impeded by the inadequacy of the credits amount and limited attention given to non-income-related issues. Finally, the researcher made some recommendations and suggested steps for their implementation. Keywords: Sustainability; Beneficiaries; Poverty alleviation; Savings; Impact; Micro-credit scheme

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Micro-Credit, Poverty and Empowerment: Linking the Triad

Cited by 24 publications

References 0 publications

A Three-Dimensional Model of Women’s Empowerment: Implications in the Field of Microfinance and Future Directions

A Three-Dimensional Model of Women’s Empowerment: Implications in the Field of Microfinance and Future Directions

Women Empowerment Through Self-Help Groups: The Bittersweet Fruits of Collective Apple Cultivation in Highland Ethiopia

An Evaluation of the Operations of Micro-credit Schemes in Poverty Alleviation of the Rural People in Northern Ghana - Case Study of Ghanaian-Danish Community Programme (GDCP)

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