Factors influencing the performance of non-governmental organisations (NGOS) in women empowerment for development in Wajir District, Kenya

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the factors that influence NGOs' performance in women empowerment for development in Wajir district. Four research questions were formulated to guide the study. The study employed a descriptive survey. The sample population for the study was drawn from members of 20 women groups and 5 officials from the 7 NGOs in the district.

Data was collected was edited and analyzed using SPSS and data was presented in frequency tables. Findings indicated that capacity building influences women empowerment and this was majorly done through trainings for women. Findings on the effects of self reliance on performance of NGOs in women empowerment indicated that there were programmes on different ways of women empowerment; however findings showed that women were not fully involved in the running of the programs. Findings on how control of resources by women affected the performance of NGOs in empowering women showed that women had limited power in the control of significant resources.

Findings on the effects of stereotyping on performance of NGOs in women empowerment in the district revealed that the community had a negative attitude towards the role of a woman in public life. Based on the findings the study recommended that the NGOs should have better modalities of empowerment which do not crash with the community values. It was also recommended that involvement men crucial to women empowerment programs, the NGOs should use the local people as much as possible other than people from outside and engage in mass education for the community to appreciate role of women in development process.