Towards Empowering Rural Women through Micro-Finance Assisted Income Generating Activities: The Case of Wesasa Microfinance Institution, Dandi District, Ethiopia

Abstract

Despite the involvement of various micro-finance institutions towards empowering women through micro-finance assisted income generating activities in Ethiopia, the status of majority of the rural women is still not pleasing in Ethiopia. This study assessed constraints of rural women in having access to loan service from micro-finance institutions and loan repayment process by taking Wesasa Micro-finance institution in Dendi District, Ethiopia as a case study. The study employed a mixed research design by integrating quantitative and qualitative methods of data collection and analysis. The results of the analysis indicate that participation of rural women in micro-finance assisted income generating activities contributes for economical, psychological, social, political, legal, and technological empowerment of rural women in the study area. However, constraints of rural women in accessing loan and loan repayment process should be properly addressed by stakeholders to improve the contribution of micro-finance institutions for achieving sustainable development goals related to rural women in the study area, Ethiopia, and developing countries. In conclusion, facilitating enough amount of loan for the borrowers with affordable interest rate and long time loan repayment period is of paramount importance as rural investments require time to generate income or profit.