"I want money to change my life" : Influence of VSLA methodology on women's economic empowerment, Likuyani division, Kenya

Abstract: In the last couple of years, informal savings groups have emerged as an alternative to formal microfinance institutions. These groups are, according to theory, assumed to empower women and to reduce poverty. This thesis looks at one version of informal savings groups, Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs), and its impact on women’s economic empowerment in Likuyani sub-county, Kenya. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 24 women from five different groups during October and November 2016. The groups were introduced in the area in 2009 by the Swedish NGO Vi Agroforestry. Drawing on the theories on empowerment and subjective wellbeing the findings show that women feel economically empowered through VSLA and that VSLA in this sense is an efficient first step. However, many women wished to save more and to additionally improve their economic status, but described this as being extremely difficult. Furthermore, they demanded more knowledge on savings.