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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

017 African Development Bank/UNESCO (1992)

The Promotion of Income Generating Activities for Women.

• The study was carried out in order to assist rural women in Malawi to establish income generating activities which would improve their living standards and that of their families and enable them to participate more actively in social and economic development. The project established a credit scheme of US$400000 and women aspiring to start IGAs took advantage of the credit scheme. Staff training included fellowships. Such fellowships were only awarded after a period of practical field work. Study tours were also undertaken to observe programme related to women in development in Africa and Asia. The study revealed the constraints which included low literacy levels and lack of financial resources. It was also found that women remain marginal borrowers because existing lending policies are simply made oriented. It was also found that experience of the other institution is that repayments of credit given to women are much higher than that of men.

Location: CSR, Centre for Social Research, box 278, Zomba, Malawi. Email;csr@malawi.net, csr@sdnp.org.mw, csrbasis@malawi.net

018 Balakrishnan, R. (1991)

Socio-economic Analysis of Agro-based Women's IGAs for Women Farmers in Malawi.

• Provides a socio-economic overview and analysis of the agro-based income generating activities in Malawi as implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture; to assess the current performance and sustainable gains to date of the Women's IGAs (WIGAs) groups. the research design was developed in consultation with the officers of Women's programmes in the MOA. One officer from women programme section and 2 women's programme officers from 2 ADDs worked with the consultant. Both secondary and primary data sources were used to develop this report. These included review of literature - desk review of documents and library search, qualitative assessment. Focus group interviews were also used to collect more data. The major strength of WIGAs are the policy commitment and the motivation of the ADD staff to implement the WIGAs at the field level. The field staff lack continued support such as technical information and marketing opportunities. Periodic visits to ADDs to monitor WIGAs are recommended. There is need to train additional Field Assistants and Field Health Assistants and where possible village women in IGA group and enterprise management. The women's programme section in the Ministry of Agriculture should place greater emphasis on training aspect.

Location: USAID/BCA, P.O. BOX 30455, LILONGWE 3, Tel:772 455, Fax: 773 181-33, email:usaid.gov, Bunda College of Agriculture, P.O. BOX 219, LILONGWE, Tel: 277 222, Fax:277 403, email: bundalibrary@unima.wn.opc.org,infortech@sdnp.org.mw

The Household Economy: Examining the mediating of Income Diversification and Home Production on Economic and Subjective well-being of Women in Malawi.

• The study investigated the effect of income diversification strategies on the behaviour and well-being of women in relation to the economic climate and natural environment. The study further examined factors that affect women's participation in the formal and informal sectors of rural and urban economic activities and the impact of those activities on well-being of women. This study utilized a sample of 129 women systematically selected from Machinga and Zomba Districts, Malawi. The unit of analysis in this study was household. The study targeted unmarried and married women in varying economic activities. Seven hundred and fifty names of women for the study were compiled from the three sampling frames: NSO, LWADD and NABW in Machinga and Zomba districts. From this list, a systematic random sample of 150 women was drawn. However, only 136 women were interviewed but the final sample utilized the analysis of only 129. Data required for this study were collected through (a) a questionnaire. The questionnaire consisted questions on socio-demographic, economic, health, time allocation and satisfaction with various domains of life variables (b) focus group interviews. This methodology helped to gain insights into problems which might affect many people and (c) personal interviews. This technique used a structured questionnaire, with both open and closed ended questions on personal and family characteristics. The overall educational levels of women in the sample were comparable to national average at the "no education" level but differed at the other levels. Nearly 30% of the sample reported having no education at all, 27.1% (35 women) reported having reached primary school level and 56 women (43.4%) reported having attained 2 years of secondary education or above. The urban and rural samples showed marked differences in educational levels. Urban women were more educated than rural women, with the majority (78.4%) attaining secondary school education or above compared to about 8% of rural women. About 56% of the rural women had no education compared having poor health the previous month and 47% reported to be in good health. Generally, the urban sample (53.1%) was healthier than rural sample (40.6%). Urban households tended to have larger household sizes than rural households.

Location: CC/HE, Chancellor College, Home Economics, P.O. BOX 280, ZOMBA, Tel: 265-524 222, Fax: 265-522 046, 265/522 578, email: ccadmin@unima.wn.apc.org

Status of Coordination of Agricultural IGAs for Rural Women in Malawi

• The study aimed at providing a database for the coordination of agricultural income generating activities for rural women in Malawi. Interviews were conducted with representatives of organisations implementing IGAs for rural women, representatives of organisations providing financial and technical support to the women and representatives of women's groups, generating income through agricultural activities. Data were collected in Malawi through interviewing the representatives described above. Responses to personal interview questions were the primary data for this study. Three interview guides were constructed for each of the three subjects. Both structured and unstructured questionnaires were used to collect data. The results indicate that many organisations, mostly private, promote agricultural IGAs to different groups of women. Organisations which implement IGAs provided rural women with economic, managerial and technical services. External funding agencies supported these organisations with financial and technical aid. The main conclusion drawn from the study was that coordination of agricultural income generating activities for women was limited to informal mechanisms, particularly at delivery level. While a positive track record on informal coordination is evident, organizational representatives strongly supported the need for inter-organizational coordination.

Income Generating Activities for Rural Women in Malawi: A Final Report.

• Assesses the need for IGAs for rural women in Malawi; to assess the production capacity among rural women for sellable products; to assess the market for commodities produced by rural women. The survey employed a multistage sampling technique, that is, from each of the three ADDS, four Extension Planning Areas (EPAs) were selected at random, giving a total of 12 EPAs. Three types of samples were drawn in each EPA, namely individual Households. In each EPA, a sample of 50 households were selected purposefully. For each of the 12 EPAs selected, a full list of all the women's IGAs was drawn. The study was undertaken in two stages, a pilot survey and the main survey. The data were mainly collected through interviews with members of households, members of IGA groups and Extension Agents in the four ADDs, by use of a questionnaire. A total of 587 households (98% of target sample) were interviewed from the three ADDs spread over 10 districts. In all cases, the respondents were female members of the selected households. Out of the 587 respondents, 499 (85%) reported to have been married, while only 15% were single. Of the three ADDs, polygamy was more prevalent in Mzuzu ADD (reported by 38% of the respondents). Fifty-six point five percent of the respondents were in the 20-39 years age category, while 35.4% were in the 40-59 years group. Forty-six percent of the respondents had no formal education, 40% did not complete primary education, 9.7% completed primary education while 1.2% had some post-primary education. Among the 587 women interviewed, some 69% reported to belong to one type of women's group or the other; while 31% did not belong to any.

Location: CSR , Centre for Social Research, box 278, Zomba, Malawi. Email;csr@malawi.net, csr@sdnp.org.mw, csrbasis@malawi.net

Malawi: Income Generating Activities for Women: USAID Funded MARE IGAs Assessment Survey Report.

• The objective of this study was to document the women's club's personal assessment of the progress of the IGA; to evaluate the profitability, sustainability and constraints of IGAs as presently carried out. Visits were made to selected IGA sites to conduct a survey in order to document the participants' assessment of the progress of the various investments. Sites were chosen within a day trip. In order to capture a variety of possible constraints and sustainability aspects, schemes of different types and stages were chosen. The researcher was accompanied by ADD officials to sites. The study actually looked at women's clubs. There were a total of women clubs interviewed. IGAs that have been funded by USAID MARE Project are focused on female smallholders who make up to over 50% of Malawi's smallholder farm force. It has been determined that 27% of all farmers are female headed households. Obtaining credit for female farmers has been difficult.

023 Maliwichi, L.L. (1997)

A Training Programme for Women Groups Engaged in Agriculture Based Income Generating Activities in Malawi.

• The objective of this study is to analyse reports and case studies of women in agro-based business cooperatives and income generating activities in developing countries. The study served to identify the reasons for establishing these associations, their processes and outcome and how these factors are related to the success and failure of groups in achieving their purpose. A total of four case studies from Malawi and 10 case studies from other developing countries were used. The elements identified were used to produce a curriculum with eleven training modules that will be used by extension agents in training women farmers engaged in agricultural based income generating activities. Participants to the study underwent 11 modules which included group problem solving, group participation involvement, group leadership goals, conducting meetings, identifying alternative income generating activities, marketing, production, profitability, financial feasibility, technical management and business goals. The study materials used were slides, video, VCR Screen, films and newsprint. The study revealed that for women to succeed in group income generating activities they require training in group participation empowerment, marketing skills and managerial skills specific to the type of business.

Location: CSR, Centre for Social Research, box 278, Zomba, Malawi. Email;csr@malawi.net, csr@sdnp.org.mw, csrbasis@malawi.net

024 Msukwa, L.A.H.,Chilowa,W.R.,Ngwira, N.A.,Asiedu, J.J.(1988)

A Feasibility Study on Income Generating Activities for Rural Women in Karonga, Kasungu and Mangochi Districts.

The study identified specific viable and marketable income generating activities for women in the three districts; identify market outlets for the produce of IGAs; to find out how women could be organised to successfully plan and participate in IGAs; explore the possibilities for utilization of appropriate technology in the production methods and to identify sources of inputs and their availability. The approach to the study was to carry out a brain storming exercise in Lilongwe with officials from Ministry of Community Services as well as from OPC and CCAM. The study covered three Districts, Karonga in the North, Kasungu in the Centre and Mangochi in the South. The purpose of these meetings was, among other things, to discuss logistics for the field work. Data for the study were collected mainly through discussions and interviews which were open-ended, focusing on issues related to existing IGAs, how they were organized, problems faced, proposals for improvements, proposed IGAs, potential constraints, etc. The methodology also involved "on-spot" visits to various areas of the districts where especially women on individual or group basis were known to be engaged in IGAs in one way or another.

Location: CSR/NAM/CCL-MC, Centre for Social Research, box 278, Zomba, Malawi. Email;csr@malawi.net, csr@sdnp.org.mw, csrbasis@malawi.net, National Archives of Malawi(NAM), P.O. BOX 62, ZOMBA, Tel: 265-524 184, Fax: 265-524 148 , Chancellor College, P.O. BOX 280, ZOMBA, Tel: 265-524 222, Fax: 265-522 046, 265/522 578, email: ccadmin@unima.wn.apc.org

025 Patterson, H (1989)

Exploration of Potentials and Constraints for Non-agricultural Income Generation with Low Resource Rural Households in Machinga District.

• Three objectives were identified for this study, namely, to identify social and economic constraints for starting small-scale business enterprises in rural areas; to explore favourable conditions for local initiatives of IGAs in terms of motivations. The study covered three villages, namely Mbela, Chibwana Nsamala and Mtembo, all in Machinga district. These villages were selected by the Rural Development Officer (RDO) because each had a different development group or change agent who could liaise with the Action Research Project researchers. Mbela village is in T.A. Kalembo's area and has 13 villages with a total population of 2,000 households. Chibwana Nsamala, in the same area, has 18 villages and a total population of approximately 225 households. Mtembo village is on the eastern part of TA Kawinga bordering T.A. Liwonde. It has about 90 households. The 1200 made the necessary arrangements through the contact persons in the various villages and households were chosen for the researchers. Monthly per capital expenditure was K24, rent was the largest non-food expenditure on average (15%) of total expenditures. Household expenditure on high income or luxury goods were found to be negligible among most households. Only 17% of the households surveyed reported any transfer payments during the study period.

Location: CSR, Centre for Social Research, box 278, Zomba, Malawi. Email;csr@malawi.net, csr@sdnp.org.mw, csrbasis@malawi.net

Income Generation for Women Farmers: Malawi

The objective of this project was to assist women farmers to increase crop production and in turn, increase food supply and cash availability. It further sought to strengthen the capacity of the Women's Programmes Section in the Ministry of Agriculture to design, monitor and evaluate income generating activity projects to improve the welfare of women farmers; and to enhance the ability of women farmers to increase agricultural productivity and concurrently become involved in generating cash income through food production, marketing, food processing, food preservation and storage.

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