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Periodical article Periodical article Leiden University catalogue Leiden University catalogue WorldCat catalogue WorldCat
Title:Tackling the Down Side: Social Capital, Women's Empowerment and Micro-Finance in Cameroon
Author:Mayoux, LindaISNI
Year:2001
Periodical:Development and Change
Volume:32
Issue:3
Period:June
Pages:435-464
Language:English
Geographic term:Cameroon
Subjects:self-help associations
credit
women
Women's Issues
Economics and Trade
Development and Technology
economics
External link:https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-7660.00212
Abstract:Microfinance programmes are currently dominated by the 'financial self-sustainability paradigm' where women's participation in groups is promoted as a key means of increasing financial sustainability while at the same time assumed to automatically empower them. This article examines the experience of seven microfinance programmes in Cameroon. These programmes all place considerable reliance on client networks and voluntary input for loan disbursal and recovery, but follow different models of microfinance and have different approaches to gender policy. The evidence reveals that microfinance programmes which build social capital can indeed make an important contribution to women's empowerment. However, serious questions need to be asked about what sorts of norms, networks and associations are to be promoted, and how they can best contribute to empowerment, particularly for the poorest women. Bibliogr., notes, ref., sum.
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