dc.contributor.author | Mburu, Florence M | |
dc.date.accessioned | 2013-05-07T12:27:33Z | |
dc.date.available | 2013-05-07T12:27:33Z | |
dc.date.issued | 2008 | |
dc.identifier.citation | Masters of Arts degree in Sociology | en |
dc.identifier.uri | http://erepository.uonbi.ac.ke:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/19850 | |
dc.description.abstract | The focus of this study was to establish the viability of the Youth Enterprise Fund
(YEDF) as an Empowerment tool for youth Entrepreneurs in the informal sector. The
study was conducted in Ruiru Division, Thika District.
The study targeted young entrepreneurs who have benefited from the YEDF through the
financial intermediaries and the constituency Youth Enterprise scheme(C- YES). The
research reviewed relevant literature by various researchers and Institutions on the role of
micro-credit in Enterprise development, the characteristic of Young entrepreneurs, the
concept of Empowerment and the challenges facing Yong Entrepreneurs in the Informal
Sector. The theoretical framework was based on the achievement/Motivation theory and
the Grameen Bank Model.
The study adopted a qualitative and quantitative approach and utilized both primary and
secondary data. The primary data was collected using personal interviews and Key
Informants data collected methods, while secondary data was gathered through desk
research reviews of documents related to the study.
The main findings of the study revealed that:
The majority of the Youth entrepreneurs seeking the loan stay alone accounting for 68%
of the respondents. Most of them have secondary education (45.8%). Nearly 52% of the
respondents are married. Most of the young entrepreneurs have other sources of income
apart from the business (61%) to cushion themselves from uncertainties encountered in
the informal sector.
The study established that the amount of loan given is minimal with 42% getting twenty
thousand, 26 less than twenty thousand. The procedure followed to access the loan took
between one month (18%) and six months (7.2%) which the respondent said was too long
(73.5%). Majority of respondent (82%) got money from micro-finance intermediaries
(rnfis) and some form of collateral was required.
Most of the respondents had some basic training in running business and majority felt
they need more training in Business management (81.9%)
Business performance had improved after the loan and the respondents reported they were
making profit (88%) and their livelihood had improved (53%) after getting the loan.
The study recommends that for the YEDF to be more effective in empowering Young
entrepreneurs the informal sector, more emphasis should be put in giving more training in
entrepreneurship skills to Youth before and after accessing the loan. The amount given
should be increased and pegged on the Youth Businesses funds proposal. The
Government can partner with other stakeholder to increase the loans for the young
entrepreneurs and address their Training needs. Systematic Monitoring and Evaluation on
the performance of the Youth Businesses by the Youth Board and the Ministry of Youth
and Sports is weak and this needs to be strengthened. The research further recommends
that a Rapid needs assessment on the YEDF can be carried to establish its sustainability in
the long term. | en |
dc.description.sponsorship | University of Nairobi | en |
dc.language.iso | en | en |
dc.title | Youth enterprise development fund: A study of its viability as an empowerment strategy for youth entrepreneurs in Ruiru division, Thika district | en |
dc.type | Thesis | en |
local.publisher | Department of sociology | en |