THE ROLE OF ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT SCHEMES ON POVERTY REDUCTION AMONG YOUTH AND WOMEN GROUPS

Abstract

The study assessed the role of economic empowerment schemes on Poverty reduction among youth and women groups in Tanzania, a case study of Arusha Region. Specifically, the study determined the influence of the provision of start-up capital on Poverty reduction among youth and women groups in Tanzania, determined the role of financial literacy training on Poverty reduction among youth and women groups in Tanzania, and established the influence of business capacity building on Poverty reduction among youth and women groups in Tanzania. The study adopted a survey research design and was based on a quantitative approach. Data was collected from 95 respondents from the Arusha region through questionnaires. The sample was chosen using purposive sampling methods. Using SPSS, descriptive statistics was used to analyze the data. Furthermore, inferential analysis was conducted whereby regression analysis was used to show the relationship between variables. Data was presented by using Tables. The study found that the provision of start-up capital has a significant influence on Poverty reduction among youth and women groups. Furthermore, the study found that financial literacy training has a statistically significant role to Poverty reduction among youth and women groups. Moreover, the study found that business capacity building has a statistically significant influence on Poverty reduction among youth and women groups. The study recommends that financial literacy should be conducted to help entrepreneurs save enough to provide adequate capital to invest in their businesses. Also, the study recommends that to save large groups of youth and women, local government authorities should have enough budget for youth and women and should encourage other's development to ensure that people can access more capital towards investing in entrepreneurship. The Government through youth and women empowerment programs should continuously offer training to youths especially those with no technical skills, on new production, proper allocation of funds, and marketing strategies/ techniques that aim at increasing the quality and quantity of harvest to achieve lasting impact