Assessing the Role of Community-Based Organisations' Activities on Women's Empowerment: A Case of African Evangelical Enterprise in Gasabo District, Rwanda

Abstract

This study sought to assess the role of community-based organisations’ activities on women's empowerment in rural communities using the case of AEE-Rwanda in Gasabo district, 2020-2023. The study used qualitative and quantitative approaches. Self-administered questionnaires are used as the main method of data collection. Nevertheless, interview, observation, and content analysis were used to complement, supplement and validate data collected through the questionnaire. In progressive study, the drawn conclusion is that AEE had contributed to the social economic development and women empowerment in rural community in Gasabo district and the researcher recommend the AEE Rwanda to focus on how beneficiaries can shift from farming activities to off farm activities, cooperate in data collection and interview activities and make stronger the collaboration between AEE Rwanda and local government authorities. The population of this study was 3050 from poor households in Bumbogo and Nduba sectors, where a purposive technique was used in order to get the desired respondents. The sample size was 354; it was obtained from the formula of Yamane. Data were analysed and interpreted using the SPSS tool to draw all tables and even indicate relationships. During this research, both primary and secondary data were used to achieve the set objectives. Training on micro-financing and group lending was very low, as 100% had no savings or investments. In other words, it was the best time for AEE to intervene in the Bumbogo and Nduba sectors. After working with AEE, 60.45% saved between 5,001 and 10,000 per year. The biggest part, 41.67% of respondents bought Animals (Livestock), 59.88% of respondents faced health insurance difficulties, and after working with AEE, 79.94% of the respondents paid for health insurance easily. The findings show that 100% of the respondents reported that it is very easy to pay school fees.  85.87% confirmed that they are able to pay their water and electricity bills. The result is [-0.009<0.932<1.00], which means that there is no relationship between the contribution of AEE to the women’s empowerment in those sectors because the correlation of -0.009.