Women Microfinance Services Uptake and Patriarchal Setbacks: Lessons from Kalali Savings and Credit Co-operative Society in Hai District, Tanzania

This study determined the influence of socio-demographic characteristics on women microfinance services uptake and establish whether women access to microfinance services has challenged the prevailing patriarchal system in Hai District, Kilimanjaro region. The study used a cross-sectional research design involving 111 respondents drawn at random from the study population. Both qualitative and quantitative data were collected and analysed. Content analysis was used to analyse the qualitative data whereby Atlas.ti computer software was used to organise and analyse some data. Ordered probit regression model was used to analyse the influence of some socio-demographic characteristics on women microfinance services uptake. The findings show that marital status and education level attained tend to influence women microfinance services uptake and some level of social and economic empowerment. Moreover, microfinance uptake among women beneficiaries has not challenged the current patriarchal system in the study area. The study concludes that while socio-economic empowerment was realised among some microfinance beneficiaries, microfinance services uptake among women has not yet succeeded to influence the prevailing patriarchal system. It is advised that women and other key stakeholders, should engage in serious training and sensitisation practices to actively influence meaningful change in the current patriarchal system

Improved Income Through Papaya Production among Youth Tourists Porters and Guides in Moshi District, Kilimanjaro Region.

This report presents information on participatory assessment research conducted in Moshi Municipal Council in Kilimanjaro region targeting youth tourists crews (guides and porters). This enabled the establishment of a project that provided youth with an alternative income generating activity (IGA) after the collapse of tourism opportunities due to global COVID-19 pandemic. The CNA objectives aimed at establishing actual youth tourist crews needs. Specifically, the CNA identified the major community needs of youth tourist crews, assess community alternative income generating opportunities and obstacles and identifying possible interventions for the identified community needs. Participatory methodology mainly pairwise ranking matrix was used. The findings showed that the community has many problems, but the main one was low youth income. As a result youth identified engaging in papaya production project as alternative IGA. The project was identified through community needs prioritisation exercise involving pair wise ranking matrix technique in ranking and picking youth desired project. The project managed to mobilise 22 youth to engage in papaya farming. It also mobilised youth engagement in the project and increased youth income from nil to at least TZS 2000 per day. It is concluded that youth are ready to venture into alternative IGA once are capacitated to do so. It is recommended that more efforts are needed by various stakeholders to facilitate youth establish productive linkages, adaptive and switching mechanisms between sectors. Key words: Income, Papaya Production, Youth, Tourists