Impact of resource mobilization on sustaining informal women groups in Tot division, Marakwet district, Rift Valley province Kenya

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the resource mobilization among informal women groups in Tot Division, Marakwet District Rift valley province. The study was necessitated by the fact that there are very few, if not lack of evidence to explain how resource mobilization in rural areas has affected women groups. Sixty eight individual in 3 sampled women groups were respondents. They included 6 leaders and sixty two members of the group. Results of data from questionnaires, interviews, content analysis and observation schedule analyzed using frequency distribution and percentage showed that-: 1. The government policy on support for the women groups should focus on the rural women groups. Though the head of state talked a bit about it during the opening of parliament in March 2008, we are yet to see it-work. 2. The government and its partners should facilitate training and skill development courses for the women groups' leaders and members to increase their productivity. 3. The government should come up with a strategy to initiate and influence women groups in the disbursement of education bursary funds for the needy, particularly to benefit girls. 4. Micro-finance institutions should come up with a scheme that is borrowerfriendly to benefit women groups in rural areas. 5. Leaders of women groups should be trained to acquire skills on record keeping and group affairs management. From the findings it was concluded that for the last twelve years, the informal women groups have not been able to raise enough funds for their projects, lacked networking ability, proper education .and male tend to have alot of oorn.rol in 'W0r110n l1ctivltloo. It was recommended that more money generating activities should be thought of rather than only relying on farms, loans and fund raising, Education also needs to be v given a lot of emphasis since illiteracy also played a role in poor management and innovation of new ideas to assist raise funds. Formal women groups should come up with a policy to support women especially in remote areas. As a long term strategy, the government should involve women groups in the disbursement of education bursary funds for the needy, particularly to benefit girls.