The Role of Cooperatives in Promoting Socio-Economic Empowerment of Women in Sandafa Town

Abstract

This study investigatedthe role of cooperatives in promoting socio-economic empowerment of women in Sandafa town; specifically, it examined the role of cooperative in promoting social empowerment of women, looked at the role of cooperative in promoting economic empowerment of women and to identify the factors which are hindering woman empowerment in cooperatives. To accomplish the purpose of this research mixed research approach was employed. In the process, primary data was collected from 93 credit cooperatives, 53 agriculture cooperatives and 63 service cooperatives. The collected data were analyzed descriptively in term of table, frequency, percent, and number using STATA 11. The result showed that cooperatives are promoting social empowerments of women’s though there are limitations in easing the information channeling mechanisms. Again, cooperatives were promoting economic empowerments of women’s even though some indicators need further sharpening. Further the study identified existence of stakeholder problems, managerial problems and working environment related problems. The study participants recommended the way to overcome communication channeling and other related problems. Additional the cooperative women members indicated that existence of problems in the areas of plan, adjust, and actively follow up of cooperatives activity. 56.67% of them showed that, the cooperatives need to overcome such problems as a means of way out. Appropriate planning, adjustment and active follow up of cooperative activity is the very critical asset for any company. Accordingly, without such critical management concern securing the organization target is difficult. Along this, access for credit is the main reason for Women’s to join cooperatives. Further, the access for credit is a clue for many more social empowerments means. These cooperatives are advised to continue to improve saving, increases bargaining power and reduce marketing risk