The Role Of Saving And Credit Cooperatives In Women Economic Empowerment: In Case Ambo Town, Ethiopia

Abstract

Saving and credit cooperatives play major role in improvement and empowerment of women economy. The objective of this study was to assess the roles of saving and credit cooperatives in improving economic Empowerment of women in Ambo Town. The study used descriptive survey design in which both qualitative and quantitative approaches used to achieve the objectives of the study. Simple random sampling technique was used in selecting respondents and the number of the respondents was determined using Kothari (2004) formula to select sample respondents. From Saving and Credit Cooperatives population, 101 of respondents were selected and 30 board of directors for group discussions and 4 cooperative promoters for the purpose of interview during the period in 2023. For this study, descriptive statistics were used to analyze primary data collected. The finding of the study has revealed that the majority of respondents have regular savings according to their by law but regarding voluntary saving, Child saving, Insurance saving and saving during hardship were very low. Also, the results show that a significant number of clients had increased their income, saving, decision making and asset ownership rights and safeguarded themselves and their families from financial difficulties. Concerning loyalty, the majority of respondents were not paying loan and interest of loan on time based on their agreement, the SACCO's management committee was not equally serving their members. Regarding the economic factor, the Access and Source of Credit respondent result revealed SACCOs was the main source of their credit to all members but the women members of SACCO's have not gotten sufficient credit when she requested for different activity to improve their economic Empowerment. Thus, the researcher recommended that the government should play its role to improve the economic Empowerment of women in the SACCOs, based on the cooperative proclamation and other rules and regulations set timely. Also, it is recommended that a study be carried out on the other factors that affect saving and Credit Cooperatives in improving the economic Empowerment of women members especially relative to economic factors