Factors Influencing Performance of Women’s Self Help Groups in Climate Resilient Entrepreneurship Projects in Mbeere South Constituency, Embu County, Kenya

Abstract

There are few empirical studies in Kenya done on performance of women in climate resilient entrepreneurship projects. The purpose of this study was to examine the factors influencing the performance of women in climate resilient entrepreneurship projects. The study was guided by the following objectives: assessing how social mobilization; entrepreneurship training; credit access and linkage to markets influences performance of women in climate resilient entrepreneurship projects in Mbeere South, Embu County. The study was guided by General Systems Theory. To achieve the objectives, the study used descriptive survey research design with a sample size of 182 respondents, who included 4 project officers, 54 group leaders and 124 group members, who participated in the Climate Resilient Entrepreneurship Project. The study used Yamane‟s Formula to get the sample size of 182. Purposive and stratified random sampling was applied to obtain 4 project officers, 54 group leaders and 124 group members. The data was collected using questionnaires for group members and structured interview schedules for group leaders and project officers. The questionnaire had both closed-ended and open-ended questions covering the aspects of social mobilization, entrepreneurship training, credit access and linkage to market facilities. A document analysis guide was used to analyze the validity of the HiHEA training program. Data was analyzed statistically by use of Statistical Package for Social Sciences software (SPSS). Descriptive statistics was analyzed by the use of arithmetic means and standard deviation to check on the levels of influence. Data was presented in frequencies, percentages tables and mean scores. The study findings indicated that most groups had inactive members (mean=1.5 and standard deviation=1.027), did not implement entrepreneurship training (mean=0.59 and standard deviation=0.494), lacked information on access to credit (mean=0.62 and standard deviation=0.488) and did not have the requisite skills to be linked to markets (mean=0.01 and standard deviation=0.098). The study concluded that social mobilization had the greatest influence on women‟s SHG performance, followed closely by entrepreneurship training, then credit access, while linkage to marketing facilities had the least influence. The study recommended that group leaders should be empowered to ensure their members are cohesive and have sustainable economic activities. The study also recommended review of the training modules for entrepreneurs, and more capacity building to project officers. Finally, the study recommended formation of community based organizations (CBOs) to enable members of women groups to access marketing facilities.