Abstract:
In most rural parts of Ethiopia, women have no equal opportunity for economic, social, and political
participation, and also a visible majority of them being poor. Women Economic empowerment, as a policy
approach, uses different mechanisms to empower women; out of which organizing women into
cooperatives is attracting the attention of many organizations. Concerning this scenario, this research was
conducted to assess Women Economic Empowerment through rural saving and Credit Cooperative in Meta
Robi Woreda of Oromia Region with specific objectives of examine women’s perception on economic
empowerment through rural Saving and Credit Cooperatives, assessing the current level of women’s
economic empowerment through rural SACCOs Saving and Credit Cooperatives and examine factors
affecting women’s economic empowerment in rural Saving and Credit Cooperatives. The methodology of
this study was an integration of qualitative and quantitative methods based on data collected from 4 rural
saving and credit cooperatives 132 sample women members in Meta Robi Woreda by employing random
sampling technique. Primary data gathered from the respondents were analyzed and summarized by using
descriptive and inferential statistical tools (frequency, percentage, chart, mean, standard deviation and
Chi-square test. Further, the qualitative data that was collected through key informant interview and focus
group discussions was analyzed qualitatively using narration to triangulate the quantitative data. And
secondary data were also used to collect the necessary information. In addition to these, Multiple Leaner
Regression analysis was used to find the factors influencing women economic empowerment. The results of
the study indicated that there are economic benefits for women participating in RASCCOs through
providing loan, and training enable the members to perform income generating activities; which help them
to increase their income, saving and relatively decision making power. Similarly the result shows that
participation in cooperative services has a positive impact on economic empowerment of women. This is
also an indication, being organized into cooperatives is very important for women to improve their
economic condition in rural areas. Many constraints are faced by the women in the study area to be
addressed by giving proper attention while strategy and policy preparation aimed to implement for women
economic empowerment. Therefore, the study, recommends that quality extension services, personal skill,
training, education and gender awareness program for rural women needs special attention to increase
their empowerment level. Therefore to empower women the RUSCCOs work in collaboration with different
partner organizations that have great stake in the local area.
