Assessing the role of Village Community Banks in Social Empowerment of Women within households in rural communities of Mtwara District, Tanzania

Abstract

This paper is based on a research which was conducted in Mtwara Region, Tanzania to explore how Village Community Banks (VICOBA) as a means of economic empowerment had facilitated change in women’s self-efficacy and self-esteem to rural women of Mtwara District. The findings indicated that through its economic role, VICOBA has led to social empowerment of rural women by increasing their self-esteem through increased respect, building a sense of social-worth and enabling them and their families to overcome disgrace. Furthermore, it has led to the increase in self-efficacy through allowing acquisition of resources, changing roles, increased confidence, improved communication between couples, building a sense of community, transforming gender relations and increased ability to solve marital problems. Results substantiate a need to formalize and harmonize the existing VICOBA models so that rural people can discover their potentials and use them effectively to overcome different social problems.

Key words: Microfinance, Empowerment, VICOBA, Self-Esteem, Self-Efficacy