Abstract:
The study centred on assessing the contribution of women development fund (WDF) to
women economic empowerment in Moshi Municipal. The study specifically intended to
examine the awareness of women group members on WDF, determine the income
generating activities done by women group members supported by WDF, examine the
achievement of WDF on empowerment of women group members and identify
challenges facing women group members on accessing WDF. The study adopted cross
sectional research design. The sample size of the study was 329 respondents obtained
through purposive sampling whereby only women who are in groups in the study area
were considered as a unit of analysis. The questionnaire was the main data collection tool
while descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression was used as a model for data
analysis. The study found that public announcements using Municipal notes boards were
used to create awareness to women group members on women development funds. On
the other hand, the majority of women groups who got a loan were engaged in pig farming
rather than other income generating activities. Women groups reported that various
domestic roles were practised following support from WDF, however, the delay of loan
and women development fund policy was noted as a challenge. The study concluded that,
through WDF loans, beneficiaries attained economic empowerment since, some had
attained; access to resource and ownership, improvement of income which ultimately
improved household livelihood. The study recommends the WDF that there should be
training concerning entrepreneurship skills, business management and how to keep
proper records of their business to women groups before and after lending money to effect
follow up.
