African Women 
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 Periodical article |
 Leiden University catalogue |
 WorldCat |
| Title: | Experience with Income Generating Activities for Southern African Women |
| Author: | Due, Jean M. |
| Year: | 1991 |
| Periodical: | Savings and Development |
| Volume: | 15 |
| Issue: | 1 |
| Pages: | 79-90 |
| Language: | English |
| Geographic terms: | Botswana Malawi Southern Africa |
| Subjects: | employment small enterprises women agriculture Labor and Employment Women's Issues Economics and Trade economics Development and Technology Status of Women |
| External link: | https://www.jstor.org/stable/25830254 |
| Abstract: | This article summarizes experiences of income generating activities (IGAs) for women in two Southern African countries, Botswana and Malawi. In Botswana the small-scale enterprises (SSE) project implemented in 1982 had three unique features: national rather than donor funds were used to provide grants (not loans) to entrepreneurs to stimulate entrepreneurship and generate employment; rural industrial officers (RIOs) were trained and located throughout the country to assist applicants and to monitor fund recipients; women received 46 percent of the grants although the programme was gender neutral. An evaluation of SSE projects in Botswana carried out in 1988 showed that major problems of SSEs included, amongst others, weakness of the markets and managerial weakness. 70 percent of small-scale entrepreneurs found the financial assistance grant programme helpful in easing financial strains. RIOs complained about lack of management training and lack of transport. In Malawi the experience to date has involved the agricultural sector primarily. Extension agents were trained to inform and assist rural households in obtaining grants for IGAs. The government prefers to start slowly with small loans and be successful, thus raising women's self-confidence. The experiences in Botswana and Malawi show that successful IGAs can be undertaken which improve income and employment. The paper concludes with recommendations flowing from these experiences. Ref., sum. |
