The impact of micro-finance credit on women’s empowerment in Tanzania: the case of PTF and pride

The main objective of this study was to examine the impact of micro-finance credits on women’s empowerment by investigating its effect on: income, control, and autonomy to make decisions on business affairs and increase in the level of employment. To achieve this end, these concepts were tested through a survey of 148 females [86 female-borrowers and 62 female-non-borrowers] in Tanzania. The survey was conducted in PTF-Kibaha and PRIDE-Kinondoni Coast and Dar es Salaam regions respectively. Results reveal that the income and the level of employment of female are greatly influenced by loans obtained from micro-finance institutions. The income and the employment level of female-borrowers were found to increase compared to female- non-borrowers. Though the magnitude of difference in income between female- borrowers and female- non-borrowers of the two regions were not the same because of different economic backgrounds where the schemes operate. The gap is very high in Coast region as compared to Dar es Salaam region. Also, results reveal that micro-finance credits do not affect the female control and autonomy to make decisions on business affairs. This means that there was no statistical difference on the issue of control and autonomy between female-borrowers and female- non-borrowers; both categories were found to possess those qualities regardless of whether the female has taken a loan or not. But the findings have shown that despite of these qualities still female-borrowers and female-non-borrowers lack confidence. This was revealed when some of females mentioned that they involve their spouses in making business decisions. The study has pointed out new question as to whether the similar observation may be found in other places in Tanzania where the patriarchal system still predominates as far as the aspects of control and autonomy are concerned. Indeed, the study has gradually evolved an appreciation of the need to do the similar study in other regions in Tanzania where the credit schemes operate.