Group-Based Enterprises as a catalyst for Empowering Rural Women Entrepreneurs: An Empirical Perspective

Abstract

This research paper explores how group- based enterprises contribute to the empowerment of rural women entrepreneurs focusing on their influences on income growth, profitability and asset accumulation. A quantitative approach was employed, surveying 100 rural women respondents. The study shows the relationship between enterprise characteristics such as group size, training, and credit access, frequency of meetings and technology adoption with income growth, profitability and asset accumulation by applying regression analysis. It also finds that access to credit stands out as the most indicator and strongest determinant across all the study analysis, while group size strengthening social network but have marginal impact on profitability. The study also reveals that group-based enterprises when supported with adequate financial, technical and institutional facilities, they will grow with innovative and effective way which enhances their empowerment. The study recommends policies   that expands women‘s access to credit through microfinance system, developing capacity building programs, and adoption of new technology. Both secondary and primary data are used for the study. Multistage random samplings are used where there is necessity.