CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1Background to the Study
Non-Governmental
Organizations(NGOs) are continually increasing andgathering momentum in their
activities.These non-governmental organizations are largely seen as important
agents inimproving the quality of life and fostering economic development. The
term non-governmental organization varies.It is for example, what most Africans
refer to as voluntary development organizations. According to the World Bank
(2000) non-governmental organizations include many groups and institutions that
are largely independent of government and that have a primary humanitarian or
cooperative rather than commercial activities.Non-governmental organizations
are free associations of individuals or group of people who share common
interests and ideals or identical objectives. Their central goal is empowering
the powerless particularly women folk, or helping them to strengthen their
hidden potentials with a view to helping them to participate in the
socio-economic development for their emancipation from less to a more better
human condition(Islam and Sultana,2005).
Non-governmental organizations
(NGOs) refer to independent voluntary associations of people acting together on
a continuous basis for some common purposes, other than achieving government
office, making money or illegal activities (Willett 2006). NGOs have gained
increasing recognition because they tend to be more sensitive to the needs and
aspirations of poor communities, minorities and women. As a result, NGOs tend
to command more legitimacy in the eyes of the poor than most governmental
structures (Ofosu-Appiah, 2003). The international community and many
governments are increasingly recognizing NGOs because of the belief that they
help to share in the costs of providing development services and because of
their perceived ability to reach the rural poor. Steinberg (2001) reports that
non-governmental organizations as a group deliver more aid than the whole
United Nations System and disburse more aid than World Bank. Korten (1998)
reported that non –governmental organizations have been looked upon as a means
of getting women the economic benefits they need more directly and cheaply than
governments have been able to accomplish. Non-governmental organizations may
include charitable and religious associations that mobilize private funds for
development and promote community organization. According to the World Bank
(2003) the concept of empowerment isthe process of increasing the capacity of
individuals or groups to make choices and to transform those choices into
desired actions and outcomes.
1.2 Problem Statement
Over the years, different
international fora have long recognized the importance of women empowerment for
development. In many societies, women have always been considered inferior to
men. Women have been marginalised economically, politically, culturally and
socially. This has contributed to undermining the full potentials of women for
enterprise development in Nigeria. (UNICEF, 2003). As a result, in recent
times, formulating an appropriate intervention for transforming the status of
women both within and outside their homes has become one of the major
preoccupations of development.
Enterprise development is defined
as the act of investing time and capital in helping people establish, expand or
improve businesses. Enterprise development helps people to earn a living; it
helps them out of poverty; and it leads to long-term economic growth for
themselves, their families and their communities. The potential of women entrepreneurs
remains largely untapped in developing and emerging markets, with many lacking
access to the financial services, skills and opportunities they need to become
successful business owners. Some recent studies have shown that in developing
countries, women own only around 30% of small businesses and as little as 17%
of medium enterprises. Women are also three times more likely to operate within
the informal economy.The Enterprise Development Programs addresses these
challenges by enhancing women‟s access to capital and markets, delivering
tailored business training, and facilitating business registration.
Consequently over the years in Makurdi, Benue State, different non-governmental
organizations have emerged to empower women for enterprise development. These
non-governmental organizations have been operating in order to facilitate
effective women empowerment through community mobilization, vocational
training, delivery of agricultural services, delivery of credit services and
delivery of health services. These non-governmental organizations in Makurdi
include Jireh-Doo foundation whose goal is to improve the lives of the
under-privileged through delivery of resource, mobilization and capacity
development. Jojo-Shaahu foundation whose goal is to help individual to achieve
their full potential. Pearls care initiative whose goal is to raise awareness
on women and implement programs towards a healthy living for sustainable
development. Osa foundation whose goal is to help individuals in communities to
reach their goals. Rohi-Nissi health care foundation whose goal is to improve
the lives of women through quality health services delivery and Centre for
empowerment and development whose goal is to envisions a better life for women
in urban and rural communities.
However, there is insufficiency
empirical studies and knowledge on the socio-economic characteristics, roles
perception of women on effects and factors influencing women participation in
these non-governmental organizations enterprises development programs in
Makurdi Local Government Area (LGA) of Benue State, Nigeria. This study
therefore sought to address the following research questions:
i. what are the socio-economic
characteristics of women in the study area?
ii. what role(s) is
non-governmental organization playing in empowering women?
iii. what are the women’s
perception on improving the performance of non-governmental organizations ?
iv. what are the factors
influencing the level of participation of women in the enterprise development
programs?
v. what are the constraints to
implementation of non-governmental organizations women empowerment programs?
Department: Agricultural Economics
Format: Microsoft Word
Format: Microsoft Word
Chapters: 1 - 5, Preliminary Pages, Abstract, References, Questionnaire
Delivery: Email
Delivery: Email
No. of Pages: 80
Price: 3000 NGN
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