A Research Submitted in Partial/Fulfillment of the Requirements for Award of the Degree of Master of Development Policy of Mzumbe University
The study identified the challenges that micro-finance institutions faces in the process of empowering women in Moshi Municipality. The specific objectives of the study are; exploring the causes for challenges of micro-finance institutions, assessing the strength and opportunities found in Moshi Municipality for women empowerment, and lastly suggesting possible solutions to alleviate challenges that face micro-finance institutions in Moshi Municipality.
The study adopted a case study design. Random sampling and purposive sampling were used to a total number of 70 respondents who were customers and staffs of micro-finance, and Municipal officials who were dealing with microfinance. Data collection for this study employed different methods such as questionnaires, interviews, observation and focused group discussion.
With respect to the objectives the findings revealed several challenges, causes of the challenges and pointed strength and opportunities found in Moshi municipality which are; poor repayment, politics, delay of funds, bureaucracy, corruption, unfaithful staffs, and unfaithful customers. Causes for the challenges are poor management in the organizations, economic depression, and inflation. And lastly strengths and opportunities to empower women in Moshi Municipality pointed out are; availability of financial institutions, availability of funds, the area being in town where business can possibily flow due to the availability of good infrastructures, and availability of entrepreneurship education to the customers that gives them a wide knowledge of operating business and skills to manage funds they raise.
Basing on the findings it was recommended that, there should be multiple ways to help in alleviating the experienced challenges which includes, design of suggestion box, trainings should be conducted for capacity building to customers, there should be a visit to customers' business for evaluation to see if they meet standards that can help them lend more money, lastly, financial management education should be provided to SACCOS board members and there should be more cooperative officers to support organizations in training, auditing and advise to the existing SACCOS.