Abstract:
Women Economic Empowerment is critical to the development of both the individual woman and
the world at large.In Ethiopia, women are frequently involved in free and unrecognized
activities, causing them to be the most deprived of compensation while less recognition So far,
no systematic study has been undertaken and not clear to what extent involvement in women
groups activities led to economic empowerment of the group members in Ambo town.
Accordingly, this study was undertaken to assess the role of women groups in women economic
Empowerment in the Ambo town, West Shoa zone, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia. To conduct
this study, descriptive type of research with mixed research approach was employed. The study
was based on primary data collected from 141 respondent selected at random sampling
technique using schedule interview. Additional information was also obtained from key
informants and focus group discussion .The data has been analyzed by descriptive statistics such
as frequency mean and tables .The findings of the study revealed that the major challenges
women groups members in economic empowerment include poor management, conflict in
interest, lack of formal education, lack of network, lack of collateral in loan and inadequate lack
of experience in the study area. From the study it can be concluded that the women group
members faced challenges in enhancing their economic empowerment in the study area. Women
and Children affairs office of Ambo town should be solved gender related factors that influence
performance of women groups and should be given serious attention to gender related factors in
economic activities for empowerment of women.
