Projects And Women’s Economic Empowerment in Gisagara District, Rwanda

Mudahemuka William – University of Tourism, Technology and Business Studies, Rwanda & Henry Stanley Mbowa – Kampala University, Uganda
Email: williamuda@gmail.com

Received January10, 2020; Reviewed April 6, 2020; Accepted April 8, 2020

Abstract:

The low levels of women accessing credits in rural areas which affects their economic empowerment and life transformation. The purpose of this paper was to establish the relationship between projects and women’s economic empowerment in Rwanda. Specifically, the study assessed the effect of project planning on rural women’s empowerment, established the effect of project monitoring on rural women’s empowerment and determined the effect of project work
breakdown structure on rural women’s empowerment in GISAGARA district. The study employed a descriptive cross-sectional survey design. The study used a sample size of 373 from 5600 people by using Solven’s formula. Questionnaires and interviews were used for data collection and data was analysed by using SPSS to establish the mean, standard deviations
and regression analysis. Qualitative data was analysed. The results indicated a positive and significant relationship between project planning and rural women’s empowerment (r=0.531, p<0.01), a significant and positive relationship between project monitoring and rural women’s empowerment (r=.551, p<0.01) and a significant and positive relationship between project work breakdown structure and rural women’s empowerment (r=.588**, p<0.01). The paper concluded that, projects are important in promoting rural women’s empowerment both economically and socially. The paper recommended that, GISAGARA district should help rural women to have access to credit facilities, it should train the women about entrepreneurial skills, project managers should meet and monitor regularly the beneficiaries to sensitize and ensure efficiently
the use of loans.