Impact of micro-credit programs upon economic and social conditions of women in rural and urban communities in Myanmar

Abstract

The poverty situation is visible in around the developing countries. The issue of poverty has become a matter of grave concern of the NGOs and the donor agencies as well. The NGOs have been implementing a wide range of development activities with a major goal of alleviating poverty around low-income communities. Among them micro-credit and micro enterprise has become one of the important strategies to intervene reduce poverty and empower women. The objectives of this thesis are to examine members' perception on the micro-credit programs and the programs impact upon economic and social changes on household and communities. The research was done at the two NGOs: YWCA and PACT/MYANMAR implementation in two areas-urban and rural in Myanmar. In this study, the qualitative method was used primarily and mainly, but also qualitative method was used to visible the member's perception on the programs. Primary data was corrected for this research through 12 casestudies from in-depth household survey, field observation, and several interviewing and group discussions to the members of the programs and also non-members. A variety of secondary data and information are also used. The research observed members' perception on micro-credit programs was moderately satisfied by the majority of the PACT (rural) project members and half of the YWDP (urban) members are high in satisfied on the program performance. For the economic impact, the study findings most of the respondents from both micro-credit projects have high in uplifting of family economic condition in the factors namely household income, self-employment, and economic security. Improvement of the social well being of the household members by almost all findings is evident. Majority of two projects members have more or less increased social status among families and communities in terms of participation in community development activities, decision making, mobility, and self-confidence and skills. The research concluded that provision of micro-credit program was effective as evidenced to help low-income families to raise their socioeconomic status and protect themselves from economic setbacks. The programs constructed positive consequences on member to become empowered and that improved individual family standard. Giving women access to micro-credit loans therefore generates many effects that benefit multiple generations and support individual families to lift themselves out of poverty.