Browsing by Author "Thomas, Helena"
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Item The impact of micro-financing on empowering women, the case of Kinondoni and Ilala districts(University of Dar es Salaam, 2001) Thomas, HelenaThe objective of this study was to ascertain the impact of MFIs in the process of empowering women. The intended beneficiary school of thought was mainly emphasised, however few aspects of intermediary school were taken into consideration just to have a glance look at sustainability and viability of MFIs. The major findings were found not to be consistent from one aspect of ernpowerment to another. Those aspects of social orientation and those intended to measure as to what extent beneficiaries perceived as being empowered were highly positive achieved. However when it comes to quantitative economic indicators such as sales, there was no significant statistical support to conclude that sales means were different compared to prior joining programmes. A positive change was observed in the aspect of respondents' enterprises ability to create employment; however the quality of that labour in terms of education and possession of other skills was observed to be relatively lower. This study does not dispute the role of MFIs in empowering the economically disadvantaged group; rather it put forward some recommendations that may enhance the noble course of empowering the marginalized people. The recommendations directly touch the operation of MFIs. Sorne of them are, such as increasing the size of the minimum or rather initial loan, extending the repayment period for repaying first instalment. The importance of MFIs diversifying and introducing new services as a strategy to a more sustainable and viable operation was also highlighted.Item Role implementation by peer credit groups and linkages to trust constructs within three microfinance institutions in Tanzania(University of Dar es Salaam, 2014) Thomas, HelenaThis study aimed to achieve three major objectives: (i) to identify and explain different strategies and techniques used by borrowing groups to screen, monitor and enforce their jointly entered credit contracts with MFIs (ii) to identify and explain specific institutional properties/characteristics perceived by key players as directly supporting role implementation by borrowing groups (iii) to obtain an understanding of “trust constructs” and associated linkages to role implementation as experienced by key players directly involved in delivery of microfinance at local levels. Case study research method was used; covering three Microfinance Institutions (MFIs), namely PRIDE, FINCA and FAULU operating in Dar es Salaam and Arusha cities. Respondents included MFIs’ borrowers, loan officers and branch managers. In total 48 in–depth interviews were conducted composed of Focus Group Interviews/FGIs (19), personal interviews with borrowers (17) and with loan officers (8) and branch managers (4). Documentary evidence, archival records, photographs and participants’ observations were also used as data collection methods. Study employed qualitative data analysis namely; theoretical coding, patterns matching of emerging codes and logical building of key themes. Findings of this study revealed varied participation levels of group borrowers in microfinance loan processing. At the screening stage, group members are shown to actively engage in group formation using the self-selection principles, directly engaged in actual assessment and approval of their loan applications with a view of determining their levels of creditworthiness. Borrowing groups were also found to actively take part in monitoring of the members’ performance through the MFIs’ regular programmed meetings (RPMs), which also serve as loan repayment enforcement mechanisms. Furthermore, group borrowers played critical role of ensuring that members paid the stipulated fines and penalties for violating rules of groups’ conduct. Institutional properties examined through the characteristics of purposeful created institutional arrangements supporting role implementation by peer credit groups (PCGs) have been identified in five categories. These are the entry level membership rules, design of products, loan officers’ facilitation, MFIs’ physical facilities settings/arrangements, loan security arrangements and linkages to external stakeholders/institutional agents. These account for the ability and differences in the patterns of role implementation by PCGs across MFIs. Trust constructs emerge in different forms including interpersonal trust, family backed trust and authority/institutional based trust which results due to levels of interactions by key actors within their groups and observed linkages with external stakeholders/institutional agents who support directly their efforts to participate in microfinance. The study contributes well into filling knowledge gap regarding the nature and interplay between trust constructs and institutional properties to role implementation by PCGs. Trust has been shown as critically important in enabling borrowers to organise effectively for shouldering shifted roles which are related with the delivery of microfinance. Institutional properties does not only show how trust is being leveraged by MFIs but also by efforts of other stakeholders from general institutional environment thus enhancing the outreach and depth/financial deepening at local levels. Philosophically, study explain well the relevant issues by blending nicely what is given by extant literature and what is obtained from field experiences. Conclusively, study’s implications for future academic research, practitioners and policy makers are advanced for the development of microfinance industry.