Title: Kenya Women Finance Trust : case study of a micro-finance scheme
Abstract: This report summarizes the findings of an Action Research conducted on the operations of the Kenya Women Finance Trust (KWFT). KWFT was set up in 1981 to help Kenyan women participate in the economic mainstream through credit and training. KWFT adopted the group-based model of intermediation implemented by the Kenya Rural Enterprise Program. It has developed a reputation among Kenyan women, especially rural women, as a reliable and quick source of credit. This empowers women by creating additional sources of income and thereby reduces their dependency level. By bringing women together KWFT has also created some long-lasting relationships which help solve some of the social problems in Kenyan society. The most significant non-economic impacts of KWFT are: creating credit awareness, developing a businesslike attitude, and reducing fear of banks and loans among KWFT clients. The general lessons learned is that successful lending requires good management skills, qualified staff, and effective information system, and a continued effort to train personnel and upgrade the management information system. The specific lessons learned fall into three general categories: institutional policies and capacity-building, credit program management, and client-servicing issues.
Publication Year: 1997
Publication Date: 1997-12-31
Language: en
Type: article
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Cited By Count: 3
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