BARRIERS TO LOAN REPAYMENT AMONG TANZANIAN WOMEN: A CULTURAL AND SOCIAL ANALYSIS
By Juma Rashid Mwakalonge
Research Article
BARRIERS TO LOAN REPAYMENT AMONG TANZANIAN WOMEN: A CULTURAL AND SOCIAL ANALYSIS
ISSN: 3067-2449
DOI Prefix: 10.5281/zenodo.
Abstract
Women entrepreneurs have become a pivotal force in driving economic development across nations, contributing significantly to growth and poverty reduction. Microcredit programs have played an essential role in empowering women, particularly in least-developed countries like Tanzania, by providing access to credit that would otherwise be inaccessible due to the lack of tangible collateral. Over the past four decades, microcredit has emerged as a crucial tool in addressing extreme poverty and fostering economic independence among women. Globally, women constitute nearly two-thirds of the clientele in Micro Credit Institutions (MCIs), underscoring their vital role in the economic impact of such programs. This paper examines the influence of microcredit on the entrepreneurial success of women in Tanzania, exploring its contribution to economic growth and the challenges women face in utilizing these financial services. The study further emphasizes the importance of microcredit in achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), particularly in empowering women and promoting gender equality. By analyzing the benefits and limitations of microcredit, the paper aims to provide recommendations for enhancing its effectiveness in fostering sustainable entrepreneurship and economic growth, with a focus on women entrepreneurs