LEVERAGING WOMEN EMPOWERMENT AS A STRATEGIC TOOL FOR POVERTY REDUCTION

Autors/ores

  • Elizabeth Atuhurira Master of Project Planning and Management Student, Kabale University, Uganda
  • Alice Ngele Mwazuna Lecturer, Department of Business Studies, Kabale University, Uganda
  • John Bosco Turyasingura Lecturer, Department of Management Sciences, Kabale University, Uganda
  • Judith Bijurenda Asiimwe Lecturer, Department of Management Sciences, Kabale University, Uganda

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.46827/ejefr.v9i4.2052

Paraules clau:

women empowerment, poverty reduction, productive resources, decision-making, formal education

Resum

The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of women’s empowerment on poverty reduction in Kabale Municipality, Uganda. Specifically, the study sought to: (i) assess the effect of women’s access to productive resources on poverty reduction, (ii) establish how women’s participation in decision-making contributes to poverty reduction, and (iii) analyze the influence of women’s access to formal education on poverty reduction. A quantitative research design was employed, and data were collected from 301 participants using structured questionnaires. Descriptive statistics (frequencies and percentages) and inferential statistics (simple linear regression analysis) were used to analyze the data. The findings revealed that women’s access to productive resources (r = .669**), participation in decision-making (r = .838**) and access to formal education all had strong and statistically significant effects on poverty reduction. The study concludes that women’s economic empowerment, participation in decision-making and access to education are critical drivers of poverty reduction in Kabale Municipality. The study further recommends that the government and development partners should strengthen initiatives that enhance women’s access to economic resources, leadership opportunities and formal education, while also addressing cultural barriers. Further research is suggested to deepen the understanding of these barriers and their influence on poverty reduction.

JEL: I32 – Measurement and Analysis of Poverty, J16 – Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination, O15 – Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration, I25 – Education and Economic Development, Z13 – Economic Sociology; Economic Anthropology; Social and Economic Stratification, H53 – Government Expenditures and Welfare Programs

 

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Biografies de l'autor/a

  • Elizabeth Atuhurira, Master of Project Planning and Management Student, Kabale University, Uganda

    Elizabeth Atuhurira is a Master of Project Planning and Management student at Kabale University, Uganda. She is currently working as a child development officer in a child development organisation in Uganda. Her main research interests are in women's emancipation, empowerment and poverty reduction.

  • Alice Ngele Mwazuna, Lecturer, Department of Business Studies, Kabale University, Uganda

    Alice Ngele Mwazuna (PhD) holds a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Business Administration (Marketing option) from Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology, Kenya (March 2023). Currently working as a Marketing Lecturer at Kabale University in Uganda, Department of Business Studies. Her main research interests are in the areas of consumer behavior, marketing research and product differentiation & innovation.

    ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7537-9391

  • John Bosco Turyasingura, Lecturer, Department of Management Sciences, Kabale University, Uganda

    John Bosco Turyasingura (PhD) graduated with a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Business Administration (management option) from Nkumba University, Uganda, in October 2023. He is currently a lecturer of project planning and management at Kabale University in the Department of Management Sciences. His main research interests are in project planning and management.

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2025-10-02

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