Significance Of Women‘s Led Income Generating Activities Towards Poverty Alleviation At Family Level: A Case Of Dodoma Municipality

ABSTRACT

When thinking about poverty level of the World in gender manner, women are most identified affected, therefore; this research was designed to explore the significance of women‘s led Income Generating Activities (IGAs) on poverty alleviation in Tanzania. The study was conducted in Dodoma Municipality within areas of Mvumi, Street number 6, Baruti and Nara. The intention of study was to: identify types of Income Generating Activities and source of initial capital. Identify factors influencing women‘s led Income Generating Activities and determine the contribution of generated income on the family level for poverty alleviation. Data were collected by using structured questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS software package. The study sample comprised sixty women involved in IGAs and sixty women not involved in IGAs. Study findings showed that major sources of income among respondents were non- farm activities, farming, salaries and remittances. Key activity undertaken was food vending, followed by livestock keeping. The study found that the standard of living respondents involved in IGAs was better, only lack of entrepreneurship skills and family responsibilities were identified as major constraints to women‘s IGAs. Income Generating Activities undertaken earn them low income that suffices for subsistence level. The study shows that women involvement in IGAs provides substantial significance to the survival of most families in the study area. Conclusively insufficient financial, ignorance, human skills and training to women about their income accelerating activities results as reasons push back women economical and failed to sustain their families as the house hold.