Women Participation and Poverty Alleviation in Selected Sectors of Kayonza District, Rwanda

ABSTRACT This study was carried out to establish the extent to which women participation has impacted on poverty alleviation in selected sectors of Kayonza district in Rwanda. Specifically, the study wanted to determine the level of women participation and the level of poverty alleviation in Kayonza district. The study employed a descriptive correlation design and data was collected from 200 respondents using self-administered questionnaire as the key data collection instrument. Data was analyzed using frequencies count and summary statistics, and Pearson Linear Correlation coefficient. The findings revealed that there was satisfactory level of women participation with a mean of 2.75 and a poor level of poverty reduction with mean 2.44. Finally, the findings revealed that there is a significant relationship between women participation and poverty alleviation in selected sectors of Kayonza district. From the above findings, the appropriate conclusions and recommendations including the areas for further research were made. Recommendations from the study particularly urge the leaders of Kayonza district and the government of Rwanda in general to develop or strengthen the mechanisms facilitating women's full and equal involvement in decisionmaking processes at all levels and in all areas that affect their life chances, choices and opportunities throughout their life cycle; Engage women and women's groups in loqil ,,,, governance processes and mechanisms through building new alliances and partn,erships, especially with men, trade unions, alternative trade groups and facilitate this process by providing necessary resources, assistance and information; Ensure women's efficient engagement in social and economic decision making through organizing economic literacy training, providing access to mass media and new information and communication technologies ; Undertake affirmative action's to ensure equal participation of women in decision-making processes at all levels and areas.; Identify and implement measures to increase the participation of women in the conceptualization, design, implementation and evaluation of poverty eradication programmes and policies and strengthen national capacities of governments, in particular those promoting gender equality and the empowerment of women, to address effectively women's empowerment and poverty eradication concerns in policy analysis and dialogue at local, national and global levels.