scholarly journals A Study of Caste and Gender Barriers for the Operation of Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) in Nepal

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 01-14
Author(s):  
Sailesh Karmacharya
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Financial Services ◽  
Cultural Barriers ◽  
Microfinance Institutions ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Female Ratio ◽  
Gender Barriers ◽  
Male Female Ratio ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Using Data

Micro-finance is used worldwide as an effective tool to reduce poverty through providing financial services to the disadvantaged groups such as low-income people and poor women who are traditionally excluded from such services. Nepal is one of the developing countries that is characterized by pervasive gender and caste bias. This study focused on gender and caste barriers that hinder the smooth implementation of microfinance institutions (MFIs) in Nepal. Using data from semi-structured interviews of ten employees of MFIs and other financial institutions, this study showed that staff of the Nepalese MFIs were aware of caste and gender discriminations, but they were inactive in overcoming these social and cultural barriers in their routine work. The findings indicated that the disproportionate male-female ratio among the staff was a major hindrance in the smooth operation of MFIs. Lack of female staff and the passiveness of female borrowers lead to the problem of communication between MFIs’ staff and their clients. Based on these findings, we suggest that gender sensitive awareness training should be included in MFIs’ training and advocacy programs for staff and clients in Nepal. Equal opportunities should be given to females and low caste people in the process of MFIs’ recruitment.

scholarly journals The Islamic Microfinance System And Its Ultimate Impact On The Poor In Bauchi Metropolis In The Context Of Socio-Economic Challenges

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 95-101
Author(s):  
Hashim Sabo Bello ◽  
Shamsuddeen Abubakar ◽  
Sunusi Abdulkadir Fateh
Keyword(s):  
Social Services ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Financial Services ◽  
Poor People ◽  
Microfinance Institutions ◽  
Islamic Microfinance ◽  
And Gender ◽  
High Level ◽  
Financial Transactions ◽  
The Impact

One of the conditions for providing social services to the population, reducing the differentiation of their incomes, as well as reducing poverty is to provide equal access to financial services for all segments of the population. Despite high unemployment and a significant number of poor people, only about a few thousand Nigerians today use Islamic microfinance services. The main purpose of this study is to study the impact of the Islamic microfinance system on the financial situation of the population. The study is based on the principles of the theory of positivism. Methods of deduction, statistical analysis, and survey served as methodological tools. The authors of the article developed a structured questionnaire, the analysis of which allowed to analyze the attitude of citizens to Islamic microfinance services. A representative sample of citizens of the metropolis Bauchi with different levels of wealth, age and gender was selected for the study. According to the results of the survey, the development of special microcredit programs for low-income people allowed to finance the start of their own business, thus providing their own and household members’ employment. The main factors hindering the development of microfinance in Muslim countries are the high level of non-repayment of borrowed funds, imperfect infrastructure, the presence of Sharia bans on certain types of financial transactions. The results of the study showed the need for an active information campaign aimed at explaining the benefits of using macro-financial services and their accessibility for low-income citizens, as well as expanding the network of microfinance institutions throughout the metropolis. These measures will create conditions for the development of small business in the country, and as a consequence reduce poverty and reduce the number of unemployed in the country.

Building blocks of financial inclusion through customer experience value at financial touchpoints in Southern Africa

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nkosinathi Sithole ◽  
Gillian Sullivan Mort ◽  
Clare D'Souza
Keyword(s):  
Southern Africa ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Financial Services ◽  
Building Blocks ◽  
Customer Experience ◽  
The Body ◽  
Financial Inclusion ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Low Income Consumers

PurposeThis paper aims to examine customer experience value orchestrated by non-banks' financial touchpoints to understand how they enhance the financial inclusion of low-income consumers.Design/methodology/approachTwo independent but related studies were conducted using qualitative comparative analyses (QCA) research design with semi-structured interviews to compare and contrast customer experience value at two rural locations in Southern Africa. The interview transcripts were analysed using ATLAS.ti, which is a powerful operating system for analysing qualitative data.FindingsThe results indicate that non-banks in the two countries design financial services that include functional, economic, humanic, social and mechanic customer experience value dimensions.Research limitations/implicationsThe data for this study was collected from financial services customers of retailers and mobile phone network operators in only one research setting in each country. Further research could extend the comparative context for qualitative studies across similar markets. Other limitations are discussed in the paper.Originality/valueThis paper contributes to the body of knowledge by highlighting the salient and germane dimensions and components found to be important in understanding financial inclusion using customer experience value. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study that incorporates customer experience value dimensions in understanding the financial inclusion of low-income consumers at the base of the social and economic pyramid in emerging markets.

Exploratory insights into the financial habits of CALD migrants

2015 ◽  
Vol 35 (11/12) ◽  
pp. 795-811
Author(s):  
Riccardo Natoli
Keyword(s):  
Financial Services ◽  
Financial Education ◽  
Linguistically Diverse ◽  
Cultural Barriers ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Vietnamese Community ◽  
Barriers And Challenges ◽  
Second Wave

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the financial habits and experience of culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) migrants via a case study of first and second wave migrants from the Vietnamese community in Australia. Design/methodology/approach – This paper utilises a qualitative approach through semi-structured interviews. A thematic analysis was adopted when coding the interview data which led to the emergence of identified themes related to financial habits and experience. Findings – The findings reveal that first and second wave migrants shared similar views on seeking professional financial advice, but not on the use of community-based financial schemes. When asked about the potential benefits of attending financial education workshops to inform themselves of financial services, most were unwilling to attend. Research limitations/implications – Although the research targets first and second wave Vietnamese CALD migrants, no claims can be made regarding the representation of CALD migrants as a whole. The research has implications with respect to the perceived necessity of CALD migrants to utilise mainstream financial services. This paper provides recommendations for future research in this area. Originality/value – The paper provides one of the few studies of an Australian CALD migrant cohort with respect to financial habits. The paper also provides an understanding of the cultural barriers and challenges facing this specific cohort of the Vietnamese community in Australia with respect to potentially accessing financial services.

scholarly journals Cognitive Style of Humanities, Commerce and Science Students – A Study on Higher Secondary Students from West Bengal

2016 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sukrita Mukherjee ◽  
Dr. Ishita Chatterjee
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Style ◽  
Secondary Students ◽  
Economic Status ◽  
Science Students ◽  
School Students ◽  
Female Ratio ◽  
Male Female Ratio ◽  
Educational Guidance ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Age Range

Cognitive style or thinking style is a term used in cognitive psychology to describe the way individuals think, perceive and remember information. The present study aims to understand the cognitive style adapted by higher secondary students. The study sample consists of 90 higher secondary school students (30 each from science, humanities and commerce background). The male female ratio was 50:50. The age range was from 16-18 years. They were all from middle socio-economic status. They were administered an adapted version of cognitive style questionnaire by Ancona, Kochan, Scully, Van maanen and Westney. The results indicate for the dimension of Sensing there was significant effect of stream of study and gender. For the Intuition dimension again there was a significant effect of stream and gender. For Perceiving dimension also there was a significant effect of stream and gender. Sensing was highest for the science stream and lowest for the Humanities. Again Intuition was highest for the Humanities stream and lowest for the Science stream. The males have always scored highest in the dimension of Perceiving than their female counterparts both in Humanities and Science stream. And the female irrespective of the stream of study has scored higher in the Intuitive dimension. The present study is helpful in the field of designing educational guidance and curriculum for the Higher Secondary Students.

scholarly journals Evaluating the Impact of Microfinance for Women in Albania

2016 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 233
Author(s):  
Oltiana Muharremi ◽  
Filloreta Madani ◽  
Erald Pelari
Keyword(s):  
Social Influence ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Financial Services ◽  
Poverty Alleviation ◽  
Empirical Investigation ◽  
Social Value ◽  
Microfinance Institutions ◽  
The Poor ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Micro Enterprises

<p class="Default"><em>Microfinance is defined as any activity involving the offering of financial services such as loans, savings and insurance to individuals with low income.</em><em> </em><em>Creating social value includes reducing poverty and having a better impact to improve living conditions through capital for micro-enterprises; insurance and savings deposits for reducing risk and boosting consumption. Worldwide microfinance actors promote access to basic financial services by developing new tools, a variety of products and the adoption of an integrated banking access.</em></p><p class="Default"><em>Initially, microfinance was largely gender neutral: it sought to provide credit to the poor who had no assets to pledge as collateral. It quickly emerged, however, that women invested their business profits in ways that would have a longer-lasting impact on their families and communities. Consequently women became fundamental to the success of the microfinance model as a poverty alleviation tool. The purpose of this article is to examine the impact of microfinance loans in improving the lives of women borrowers, as well as in strengthening their social influence and the microcredit impact in promoting savings. This study is based on an empirical investigation of 384 structured questionnaires and surveys directed at microfinance institutions and their clients in the regions of Vlore and Fier, Albania.</em></p>

Younger Patients with CLL/SLL Are Less Frequent and Have Favorable Survival in a Canadian Population Based Study: The Manitoba Cohort.

Blood ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 108 (11) ◽  
pp. 3335-3335
Author(s):  
Versha Banerji ◽  
Alain Demers ◽  
James B. Johnston ◽  
Marshall W. Pitz ◽  
Zoanne Nugent ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Flow Cytometry ◽  
Cancer Registry ◽  
Clinical Characteristics ◽  
Cox Regression ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Lymphocytic Leukemia ◽  
Female Ratio ◽  
Canadian Population ◽  
Male Female Ratio ◽  
And Gender

Abstract Background: Detailed population-based clinical characteristics and outcomes of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and small lymphocytic leukemia (SLL) are scarce. We have previously demonstrated in the province of Manitoba that by combining population-based sources of a cancer registry and a centralized flow cytometry database, the incidence of CLL/SLL is much higher than previously reported. We have now examined the clinical characteristics of this large and well defined patient group. We hypothesized that the clinical features of these patients (pts) may differ from previous studies where data was obtained from referral centers. Methods: All pts from the Manitoba Cancer Registry with ICD codes 9 & 10 for CLL or SLL from 01/01/1998 to 12/31/2003 were identified. Pts from the flow cytometry database during this time period with a diagnosis of CLL/SLL were also identified. A retrospective electronic chart review was conducted. The two databases were compared and analyzed. Results: 715 pts with CLL were identified. 358 pts were identified from the cancer registry alone, 136 pts by the flow cytometry database, and 221 pts in both datasets. Overall, the age-adjusted annual incidence rate of CLL/SLL in Manitoba was 10.5/105 (95% C.I. 9.4–12.7/105). Median age of all pts was 72yrs (19–101). Only 71 pts (9.9%) were aged <55 and 212 pts (29.6) were <65. The Male: Female ratio was identical in the age<55 and >55 categories (1.33). Median follow-up of living pts is 6.6 years (range 2.0–8.0). The Cox regression model was used to evaluate the significance of prognostic factors including age at diagnosis and gender. Older cases (>55 years) had significantly higher risk of dying (HR: 4.0, 95%CI: 1.23–13.1) than younger pts. Women had a slightly lower risk of dying (HR: 0.78, 95%CI: 0.40–1.50) than men. For the 136 pts for whom accurate Rai staging was available, estimated median survival has not been reached in stage 0 patients, while it was 7.2 years in stage I–II cases and 4.5 years in stage III–IV patients. Cause specific mortality and complete survival according to Rai stage for all pts will be presented at the meeting. Conclusions: In this population-based CLL/SLL cohort, clinical presentation and outcomes appear to differ from previously reported studies. Specifically, (1) there are fewer younger pts, (2) the male: female ratio is similar amongst all ages, (3) older pts have a significantly poorer survival, (4) pts with advanced Rai stages appear to live longer than previously reported. This has important implications for treatment and counseling of pts, as well as for resource allocation for this common hematological malignancy.

Effects of the Male-Female Ratio at Work: Policewomen and Male Nurses

1989 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 41-57 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Marlies Ott
Keyword(s):  
Empirical Study ◽  
Critical Mass ◽  
Male Nurses ◽  
Work Organizations ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Female Ratio ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Male Female Ratio ◽  
Nursing Teams

Difficulties faced by women in work organizations are often explained as indirect consequences of their numerical minority. Their sex plays no role in these explanations: Men in a minority position are claimed to experience similar problems. The results of this empirical study challenge this: Policewomen are seen to face many of the disadvantages pointed out by Kanter (1977) and others, whereas male nurses enjoy advantages from being one of the few among female colleagues. Also, while the male majority in police teams do indeed resist women when their number reaches a critical mass, the female majority in the nursing teams do not show a similar resistance to men. The study involved 50 police teams and 49 nursing teams of approximately 15 members each. Comparisons were made only within each occupation, between skewed and tilted settings. Data were gathered by means of 297 semi-structured interviews. The opposite effects on men and women of being in a minority are attributed to a difference in status.

scholarly journals Perceptions about the accessibility of healthcare services among ethnic minority women: a qualitative study among Arab Bedouins in Israel

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Haneen Shibli ◽  
Limor Aharonson-Daniel ◽  
Paula Feder-Bubis
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Ethnic Minority ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Access To Healthcare ◽  
Minority Women ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Gender Barriers ◽  
Values And Beliefs ◽  
Accessibility Issues ◽  
And Gender

Abstract Background Access to healthcare services has major implications for vulnerable populations’ health. Socio-cultural and gender characteristics shape the utilization and access of healthcare services among ethnic minorities worldwide. One such vulnerable ethnic minority is the Arab Bedouin women in Israel. As women, they are marginalized in their community, where women do not have full equity and they experience multiple barriers to healthcare services The main objective of this study is to provide a nuanced, experiential, emic description of healthcare accessibility issues among Bedouin women in Israel. Identifying the barriers, they face in accessing healthcare may help healthcare policymakers make changes based on and tailored to Bedouin women’s needs. Methods A qualitative study included in-depth semi-structured interviews with 21 Arab Bedouin village residents, consisting of 14 women and 7 men. Eligible participants were Arab Bedouins over 18 years of age and who used healthcare services at least once in the last 5 years. The interviews were carried out in Arabic-Bedouin dialect and included demographic questions, open-ended questions that asked about participants’ perceptions regarding their experiences with healthcare services, including the factors that helped and hindered them in accessing these services and questions regarding suggestions for improving the accessibility of healthcare services based on the identified needs. Data collected were analyzed using thematic analysis. Study trustworthiness was ensured using audit, reflexivity, and peer debriefing. Results Arab Bedouin women experienced varied barriers while accessing healthcare services. This study uncovered how language, cultural and gender barriers intersect with other disadvantages ingrained in social norms, values and beliefs and affect the access of a minority women subgroup to healthcare services. The participants identified subgroups of Bedouin women (e.g. elderly Bedouin women) affected differently by these barriers. Conclusion Taking into consideration the identified needs and the Arab Bedouin women’s unique characteristics, along with adopting the intersectional approach should help improve access to healthcare services among such a vulnerable subgroup and other subgroups within minorities worldwide.

scholarly journals Shifting Classes: Interactions with Industry and Gender Shifts in the 1980s

2000 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jon Gubbay
Keyword(s):  
Relative Size ◽  
Population Census ◽  
Female Ratio ◽  
Complex Interactions ◽  
Industrial Sectors ◽  
Class Composition ◽  
Male Female Ratio ◽  
Unskilled Workers ◽  
Male Dominated ◽  
And Gender

Data drawn from Population Census of Great Britain suggest that both the images of proletarianisation and upward shift of the class structure are over-generalised. Shift- share analysis is used for the period 1981-1991 to explore the complex interactions between changes in class composition within industrial sectors, change in the relative size of sectors and sex composition shifts (within classes, within sectors and within class/sector categories). For example, sector shifts explain change in numbers of self-employed professionals and semi-skilled manual workers but changes in class composition within sectors account for changes in numbers of managers, non-manual ancillary workers and artists, unskilled workers and own account workers other than professionals. Change in class composition does not account for the change in the sex ratios within classes. Although sector shifts contribute to a decline of the male/female ratio in most classes, this process is uneven, with both declining male dominated and growing female dominated sectors, whose effect is partly counterbalanced by growing male dominated and declining female dominated sectors.

scholarly journals The Akiba Mashinani Trust, Kenya: a local fund’s role in urban development

2018 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 53-66 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jane Weru ◽  
Omondi Okoyo ◽  
Mary Wambui ◽  
Patrick Njoroge ◽  
Jacinta Mwelu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Financial Services ◽  
Informal Settlements ◽  
Wealth Accumulation ◽  
Microfinance Institutions ◽  
Social Fabric ◽  
Financial Products ◽  
Community Project ◽  
Low Income Groups ◽  
Basic Infrastructure

This paper describes the funding and financial services provided by the Akiba Mashinani Trust (AMT) to support the Kenyan Homeless People’s Federation (Muungano wa Wanavijiji). Muungano is a federation of autonomous savings groups with over 60,000 members from informal settlements across Kenya. Savings are critical because they enable wealth accumulation, demonstrate the capacity of the community to repay loans and hence leverage additional resources, and build social capital among members. AMT is able to use these savings as seed capital for revolving funds at the community, city and national scales. The funds offer informal settlers a range of financial products, including community project loans, which allow savings groups to finance social housing, sanitation and basic infrastructure in an affordable way. Therefore, unlike formal banking and microfinance institutions, AMT positions its financial services within a broader effort to improve the physical and social fabric of urban informal settlements. The experiences of Muungano and AMT demonstrate the catalytic impact of establishing appropriate financial services geared towards low-income groups – and crucially, how the savings of low-income people can leverage government resources to achieve more inclusive cities.

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