An Assessment of the effectiveness of women empowerment programmes in Mazowe District Ward 26, Zimbabwe.

Abstract

The research was centered on three main objectives: to identify the types of women's empowerment programs implemented in Ward 26, to examine the socio-economic impact of these programs on women beneficiaries, and to discuss the problems in the implementation and sustainability of empowerment programs in Mazowe District Ward 26, Zimbabwe. Using a convergent mixed-methods design, data were collected from 89 women beneficiaries through surveys, 5 key informant interviews, 2 focus group discussions (16 participants), and direct observations. The study found that Village Savings and Lending (VS&L) groups (100% participation), agricultural projects (70%), and skills training programmes (50%) were the most common interventions. Results indicated significant social empowerment gains, including increased confidence and decision-making participation. However, economic empowerment remained limited, with mean monthly income increasing from USD $67 to $108 (t(88)=7.84, p<0.001). Major challenges included limited access to capital (78%), poor market access (65%), climate change (52%), cultural barriers (47%), and inadequate training (38%). The study concludes that while empowerment programmes successfully enhance social agency, structural barriers prevent sustainable economic transformation. These findings support Kabeer's (1999) distinction between resources and agency, demonstrating that economic access without structural change yields partial empowerment. Recommendations include adopting an "Empowerment Plus" model linking social groups to financial services, engaging men as allies, and policy reforms addressing market access and credit constraints.