Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to assess/investigate Women’s Self-Help Groups in Poverty
Reduction at Mehal- Ketema Sub City in Hawassa. Descriptive survey design was employed.
Quantitative data were collected, through questionnaires, from 162 women’s self-help group
respondents. The researcher has employed simple random sampling technique to select her
respondents. Semi-structured interviews were also held with six experts from Mehal Ketema sub
city Women and Children Affair office (especially Women Capacity Building Core Process),
OMF office, Finance Economic Developmental Department, Hawassa City Administration
Women Capacity Empowerment Core Work Process, and NGOs, in order to get additional
information about the groups contributions in poverty reduction was interviewed. In the study,
one focus group discussion was held. The focus group has consisted purposively selected seven
Women's Self-Help Group leaders from the groups to get deeper understanding on its role in
poverty reduction among the group members. Using SPSS version 20, quantitative data were
analyzed using descriptive statistics such as percentage, mean, standard deviation, and
inferential statistics such as chi-square test. Finding of the study revealed that on the case of
Women's Self-Help Group Interventions on Poverty Reduction, some SHG members resign from
membership with trivial cases. The data analysed revealed that even if some women SHG
members have generated income that can cover their monthly expenditure, start to save money
and able to change their household, still it is exhibited that there are some women participating
in their SHG are not able to do so. As the researcher observed, in Poverty alleviation activities
the role-played by the selected women’s SHGs in terms of poverty reduction in the study area
generally revealed that it contributed towards reducing the pressure of poverty of the
beneficiaries. Therefore, in order to be effective in achieving the goal, all the development
actors and the beneficiaries should focus on long term and value- added projects than
immediate benefit that satisfy their daily needs.
