Browsing by Author "SUMBUKENI, Mildred"

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    Exploring the Contribution of Microfinance to Poverty Reduction among women in Chongwe District: A Case of VisionFund Zambia
    (University of Lusaka, 2024) SUMBUKENI, Mildred
    This study aims to establish Vision Fund's MFI services for Chongwe women, investigate the sustainability of women's livelihoods, and assess challenges and successes in poverty reduction through microfinance services. The study adopted a quantitative methods approach and used a descriptive study design. The population of the study consisted of female loan recipients from Vision Fund Zambia residing in Chongwe district. The study used purposive sampling technique and data was collected using structured questionnaires. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics and regression analysis was conducted to examine the relationship between microfinance and poverty reduction among women in Chongwe district. The study found that Vision Fund provides diverse MFI services to women in Chongwe District, such as microcredit, financial literacy, savings, entrepreneurial training, community banking, technology use, and programs for healthcare and education. Women expressed high satisfaction, especially with microcredit and technology. Microfinance positively impacts women's livelihood sustainability, affecting income, business, confidence, savings, literacy, overall well-being, education access, and community development. Examining challenges and successes revealed positive aspects like saving, empowerment, community inclusion, flexible repayment, effective poverty reduction, community engagement, network establishment, and potential for long-term poverty reduction. The study recommended that: Vision Fund should continue and expand its successful microcredit services, leveraging the high satisfaction reported by women; there is need to enhance financial literacy programs to further empower clients in making informed financial decisions; there is need to address challenges related to community-based banking services to improve accessibility, especially in remote areas; and there is need to strengthen community engagement initiatives to address social issues related to poverty.