Role of Savings and Credit Cooperative Societies in Promoting Gender Equality in Agarfa District, Ethiopia

Abstract

When the issues of cooperatives are raised participation based on gender equality is unquestionable to make the development of cooperatives fruit full. The study was aimed at assessing the role of savings and credit cooperatives in promoting gender equality and identifying the influencing constraints in the study area, Agarfa district, Ethiopia. A multi stage sampling technique was employed to select 120 (60 women and 60 men) sample respondents from four Savings and credit cooperative societies of the district and then interviewed using pre-tested semi structured interview schedule. Both primary and secondary data were collected and analysed to understand various roles of savings and credit. Qualitative data were used to supplement quantitative data. Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The economic roles of the cooperatives in promoting gender equality were fair in some areas except in saving amount and credit term. In the social roles of the cooperatives, they were not promoting gender equality in the areas of cooperatives awareness creation, cooperatives training and cooperatives relations, except in community service. In the decision making practices of the cooperatives there was gender equality only in the general assembly meeting and gender inequality was there in others. The gender mainstreaming practices were seen in the cooperatives, but they were not properly implemented Cultural barriers, lack of awareness on cooperative ideologies and gender disparity in implementing the mainstreamed plans were the major constraints of promoting gender equality. The implications of the research show that cooperatives working intensively on awareness creation, training and education programs help to strengthen women's capacities and capabilities. Cooperatives should review their policies and plan periodically to ensure that they are gender sensitive and cooperatives need to focus on gender issues in their action plans.
Keywords: cooperatives, gender equality, gender participation, savings and credit