39 research outputs found
The microfinance mirage: The politics of poverty, social capital and women's empowerment in Ethiopia
No full textMicrofinance has long been considered a development strategy that can correct the failure of the global credit market and address the financial needs of the poor enabling them to create and run profitable business enterprises. The Microfinance Mirage argues that this neo–liberal oriented analysis overemphasises the economic argument whilst ignoring the cultural roots of inequality and subordination. Drawing on ethnographic research conducted among rural credit clients in the Northern region of Ethiopia, Esayas Bekele Geleta provides a nuanced critical analysis of microfinance challenging the common assumption that it facilitates the building of social capital, poverty reduction and the empowerment of women. Making a unique contribution to our further understanding of the microfinance industry the research shows that, in some cases, microfinance can result in the disintegration of pre–existing relationships and in the disruption and destruction of the livelihoods of the poor. Exploring the impact of microfinance in one of the poorest regions of sub–Saharan Africa, this book demonstrates its potential and problems and shows the complex and contradictory social and cultural environments in which projects are often located.bookPublished
Social capital as collateral: Banking on the poor
No full textGroup-based micro finance is a field in which the place of social capital in development has been given a central focus. The formation of micro group is based on tapping into the information that group members have about each other, thus relying on social capital. Group-based micro finance has also been explained as a means of creating social capital. This article, drawing on Pierre Bourdieu's conception of social capital, in contrast to the widely accepted notion of it, critically examines the link between social capital and group-based micro finance. It argues that group-based MF is not favored by the marginalized poor, and it serves as a mechanism in the production and reproduction of social conflict and inequality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]Peer reviewedfinal article publishe
The politics of identity and methodology in African development ethnography
No full textSince the reflexive turn in sociology and social anthropology, ‘identity negotiation’ and the ‘insider/outsider’ dilemma have been central topics of ethnographic literature. Much of the writings have exposed how the sociocultural biography and the identity of Western researchers interact, contradict and collaborate with the constructed ‘self’ of the participants of research. However, African development researchers have largely focused on describing the substantive component, with only scant analysis of the research process. In this article, illustration of the author’s experiences in the process of undertaking fieldwork on Amhara Credit and Savings Institution, a microfinance institution located in Ethiopia, and its clients, demonstrates that African development ethnographers’ interaction with participants of research is affected by their methodological preference and by their political and cultural identity. The article exemplifies that African development ethnographers are partially inhibited in research process and interpretation by boundaries imposed by their own research orientation and by their political and cultural identity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]Peer reviewedfinal article publishedAfricaoutsidernegotiationmethodological orientationinsideridentityethnographydevelopmen
Microfinance and women's empowerment: an ethnographic inquiry
No full textWithin the last two decades microfinance has been widely adopted as one of the best development strategies to reduce poverty and empower women in many developing countries. Drawing on ethnographic research undertaken in Ethiopia, this article elucidates the complexities of microfinance processes, and argues that current microfinance practice does not facilitate the participation of women in decision-making over the use and management of loans as well as the income they generate from running small enterprises. The article illustrates that women are engaged in running small-scale economic activities at home that produce low returns, and they have limited access to lucrative markets. It also demonstrates that due to a discriminatory household division of labour, women are overworked in their households and in their enterprises. Through engaging in a mode of representation (ethnography) that allows specific critical voices to be heard, the article contributes toward tempering the current enthusiasm for the widely expanding microfinance industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]Peer reviewedfinal article publishedLabour and livelihoods – MicrofinanceSub-Saharan AfricaGender and diversit
“The pluses of pulses”: haricot beans and women’s empowerment in Ethiopia
No full textThis practical note demonstrates the role that haricot beans play in assisting women to become food and nutrition secure, to generate income, and to have sustainable livelihoods that are resilient to shocks. Based on qualitative research among female and male beneficiaries of a pulse innovation project implemented in southern Ethiopia, the note provides a summary of the critical voices of farmers, and the role that haricot beans play in empowering women. It also outlines some of the challenges that the project faced in achieving its empowerment objectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]Peer reviewedfinal article publishedSub-Saharan AfricaLabour and livelihoods – Poverty reductionEnvironment (built and natural) – Food securit
The politics of gender identity in qualitative research
No full textPresented at The Annual Canadian Sociological Association (CSA) Conference , June 04, 2021, Virtual; in the session Gender and Development: Contextualizing Theory on the Ground
Scaling-up: Gender integration and women’s empowerment in Southern Ethiopia
No full textIn the last couple of decades, the scaling up of successful pilot projects has been considered a crucial development strategy. The majority of scaling-up programs in developing countries stipulate the integration of gender as a central objective. In the article we argue that while the integration of gender in the scaling up of pilot projects has the potential to empower women, care should be taken not to overly focus on a segment of the women category (particular female heads of households) and overstate temporary gender gains that do not transform exploitative gender norms and practices. The article draws on evaluation research undertaken by researchers of the Scaling-up of Pulse Innovation for Food and Nutrition Security (SPIFoNS) Project, implemented in Southern Ethiopia. Data of this write-up were gathered using semi-structured questions, focus group discussions and observation. The article argues that if projects such as SPIFoNS are to adequately challenge patriarchy and contribute to bringing about gender equity, they need to recognize the heterogeneity of women and design multidimensional programs that can help married women to gain full access to resources and participate in important household decision-making processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]Peer reviewedfinal article publishedscaling upinequalitypatriarchyempowermentgender integratio
A lesson of success in microfinance in Africa: The experience of ACSI in Ethiopia
No full textThe conference paper presented at the First European International Conference on Microfinance, Brussels, July 2-4.
ACSI (Amhara Credit and Savings Institution) is one of the largest MFIs that are found in the world. ACSI won a number of global microfinance awards and is emerging as the most efficient and sustainable MFI in Africa. This paper critically assesses the specific qualities of ACSI that enabled it to ration micro-loans to about a million of People in Amhara region, one of the most inaccessible and harsh environmental zones of Ethiopia, one of the poorest country in sub-Saharan Africa. It critically examines how the involvement of state and community members influences microfinance outcomes. The paper draws on an ethnographic research undertaken on ACSI’s credit clients in rural agricultural and urban communities of Semen Showa Zone1, Amhara region, Ethiopia.conference paperPublishe
Development as a background
No full textThe gap in per capita income between the north and the south counties of the world, taken as two groups together, is diverging rather than converging (IMF, 2004). This economic measure could inform as the fact that there has been an increase rather than decrease in the global inequality. This could lead us to question; what causes such inequality? When did it start happening? Why it is increasing? What is the consequence of it? Who is responsible? What can be done about it? The main intent of development discourses from the beginning up until recently relays on finding solutions to such questions. At the same time, the success and failure of development discourses and praxis relate to the degree of successes in addressing the same challenges.final article publishe
Ukrainian Choir - 03
No full textPhotograph - Members of the Athabasca Ukrainian Choir, Athabasca, Alberta. Back row, left to right: Raymond Chrusch, Alex Krawec, Sam Saley, John Muzyka, Steve Geleta, Paul Krawec, Bill Kiselyk and Bill Chrusch. Middle row, left to right: Pearl Wallach, Mary Pidzarko, Helen Kobsey, Olia Marchuk, Nancy Appleby, Mary Demko, Pete Pidzarko and Nadine Kiselyk. Front row, left to right: Mrs. Shalapay, Annie Saley, Annie Wolanuk, Mrs. Chrusch, Millie Krawec and Nick Demko. Seated: Fred Chrusc
