A Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Economics - Project Planning and Management (MSC. PPM) of Mzumbe University
The study analysed the impact of women development fund (WDF) on welfare of household‟s in Kiteto district. The study specifically focused on analysing the contribution of Women Development fund loan on household‟s welfare, to evaluate the contribution of education on household‟s welfare, and to investigate the contribution of employment on household‟s welfare. Self administered questionnaire were employed in data collection from 105 respondents who were obtained by simple random sampling technique. Seemingly unrelated regression equation (SURE) model was used to determine the magnitude of change of income, ownership of assets, and nutritional status as response variables. Excel computer software was used for data entries and STATA for analysis. The results were: WDF contributed on household‟s welfare by 99% because it was significant on income, ownership of assets, and nutrition. Assets that were owned by women were televisions, cellular phones, bicycles, motorcycles, while few women owned houses. Education contributed household‟s welfare by 66.7% whereby 33.33% in income, and 11.11%, and 22.22% on ownership of assets, and nutrition respectively. Self employment contributed ownership of assets by 33.33%. The findings were; the WDF loan size is good strategy for reduction of income poverty in the country. There is low understanding of women on policy and laws governing equal rights on ownership of assets. However borrowers sustained an increased income by ensuring that the economies of scale from their firms were optimally attained by increasing production as average cost falls up to the point where optimally output was produced. Investing in secondary education is good strategy for increasing income and improving nutritional status, while increasing self employment is a good strategy for ownership of assets on women. The study recommends the government to provide adequate loan size and to impart knowledge to women about policy and laws governing equal rights on ownership of assets.