Economic And Social Impacts Of Self-Help Groups In Uganda

Gender equality and women empowerment is the third of the millennium development goals (MDGs). Along with government and non government parties, a participatory community approach of the rural women known as self help groups (SHGs, also known as mother’s group or women’s group) are working towards achieving the goal. In rural parts of Uganda, such groups are carrying out various activities that benefit women and community.

During SHG meetings, women discuss a lot including social control activities like controlling alcoholism, betting and gambling, advocating for poor and voiceless women, campaigning against discrimination and superstitious beliefs, providing skill based trainings to members of SHGs etc. 

SHGs members have higher empowerment indicators and higher income and assets. During a study, it was  found that women empowerment is positively impacted by self help groups. The various activities like rural micro credit reduced the economic dependency of women upon other members of the family and the trainings and knowledge enabled the women to begin economic activities. Thus, women could use the fusion of loan and trainings to improve their livelihood by diversifying their income sources and reducing dependency.

The meetings and awareness programs increased the knowledge and experience which led to an increase in the ability of making quality decisions and ensure participation. Participating in the social control activities, women were able to gradually lower the traditional and cultural barriers for participating in the development process.

The higher empowerment indicators of the SHG participants as seen in the study suggest that participation speeds up the empowerment process. It will be too early and immature to conclude that SHG participation contributes to increase high value assets.

Fig: Women listen to volunteers input during SHG meeting session