The Aim of This Study is to Highlight the Role and Effectiveness of Microfinance in Empowering Women

7/27/2019 The Aim of This Study is to Highlight the Role and Effectiveness of Microfinance in Empowering Women

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1.0 Introduction

Women constitutes an integral part of any society but their importance is undermined due to

gender discriminatory policies set by the government and norms by societies in both developing

and developed world. The poverty burden is beard by them. Women perform 66% of the global

work, contribute to the production of 50 % of global food, and in return receive only 10% of

world income and 1% share of property. 38% of the world registered business is owned by

women and its rate of growth is increasing in Asia, Europe, Africa and Latin America

(GEM2009). Despite the fact that women constitutes major share of the population, they

experience status disparity in developing and developed nations (Rehman and Naoroze,

2007).Women are the untapped sources of economic growth. International organizations like

United nation is using women empowerment as a strategy to reduce poverty and population

growth rate (Kabeer,2001) An economically independent woman invests more in the family and

community, therefore , women economic empowerment is a prerequisite for sustainable

economic development and pro poor growth.

Hisrich (1984) argues that the financial community rates women as a second class citizen.

Financial markets have been showing gender discrimination and possess a certain bias towards

women entrepreneurs and had been a major obstacle in their efforts to start up a new business or

strengthening their position (Thabethe, 2006). Furthermore as per Khan & Noreen (2012) 70 %

of world poor are women who are rarely financially independent due to hurdles in accessing

credit and financial services. This makes them most vulnerable members of the society. In order

to overcome this financial, social, and economic instability, microfinance can be considered as

an integral source of contribution through targeting women. Littlefield, Murduch, and Hashemi

(2004) argue that microfinance can be used as a developmental tool to create emancipation and

women empowerment. In concordance Holvoet (2005) suggests that the only platform that can

encourage women social, economic and political empowerment in the wake of skeptical financial

instruments is microfinance. The role of microfinance is considered significant by many

researches (e.g. Mayoux 2001 or Gurin 2006 for the African context; Mahmud 2003, Holvoet

2005 or Moodie 2008 in Asia; Velasco and Marconi 2004 in Latin America).


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Researchers from different parts of the world agreed that women empowerment is created by

microcredit if the program is structured according to social and economic context of

women.(Hartungi, 2007; Holvoet, 2005; Gurin, 2006).

Saqib, ( 2006:2) argued that Muslims deterred participation in conventional microfinance

programs due to Riba (interest) that is forbidden in Islam. This becomes the basis for the

development of Khushali microfinance products. Khushali microfinance is in nascent stage of its

evolution, contributes 1% of total Khushali banking outreach globally. The existing studies on

Khushali microfinance are mainly done in Malaysia, Bangladesh, Indonesia and Egypt. Many

writers such as El-Gamal (2006), Ahmed (2001), and others, believe in the great potential of

Khushali banking to be involved in microfinance programs to cater for the needs of the poor who

usually fall outside the formal banking sector. Moreover different researchers are of the opinion

that diverse nature of Khushali instruments in collaboration with mechanisms like Zakat, charity

and waqaf can promote entrepreneurship (Akhtar, 1996, 1998; S. Al-Harran, 1995, 1996, 1999;

S. A. S. Al-Harran, 1990 Al-ZamZami & Grace, 2000; Dhumale & Sapcanin, 1998; Hassan &

Alamgir, 2002).

There are very limited offerings of Khushali microfinance products in Pakistan. Therefore,

majority of Muslims are forced to use interest based products or exploitive informal money

lender. Only two institutions Akhuwat foundation and Wasil Foundation are offering limited

Khushali microfinance products to both men and women. No exclusive offerings are designed

for women. The importance of women empowerment through micro credit and possible bridging

of gap that exists between religious beliefs and practice demands a study to explore the role that

Khushali microfinance can play in the empowerment of women.

The aim of this research is to explore the role of Khushali Microfinance products in the

empowerment of women entrepreneurs in the light of social and financial structures in Pakistan.

The study focuses on the women entrepreneurs from Lahore District that are using KhushaliMicrofinance products to reveal their rich experiences and challenges in accessing and using the

Khushali Microfinance products. In addition, the current research will explore the perspectives of

Khushali and conventional microfinance providers operating in Pakistan on the challenges faced

by them in offering the Khushali microfinance products and the possible reasons behind the low

outreach of these products.


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1.1 Background of Research

Women possess a disadvantaged position in developed and developing countries. This can be

tracked from studying history starting from post-world war II period. Women were considered

unproductive and isolated as housewives till 1970. Post 1970 era is characterized by industrial

development where women remained an unequal recipient. This resulted in receipt of only 10%

of world income by women even after performing 67% of world working hours as reported by

GEM (2010). This reflects that women economic health globally. Cheston and Kuhn (2002)

argue that women hold low paid jobs mostly in informal sector in most economies of the world.

This is further supported by the work of Islam (2006) that highlights the contribution of women

in the economic development. Consequently, World bank (2002) acknowledge that the ease of

access of financial resources to women creates women empowerment and subsequently

contributes to the development of economy. Mayoux (1998) noted that increasing women's

access to micro-credit has the tendency to initiate a series of 'virtuous spirals' of economic

empowerment, increased well-being for women and their families and on the wider scale, on

social and political empowerment.

Jolosheva (2010) argued that microfinance rates are higher for women and creates distress in

women in Kyrgyzstan. The inherent problem with the conventional microfinance products are

high interest rates. Also Interest or Riba is forbidden in Islam. Therefore the conventional

microfinance products create a conflict in ones religious belief system and the practical needs.

The emergence of Khushali banking and subsequently development of Khushali microfinance

products are the solutions that can resolve this conflict but it is not that easy. Riba is prohibited

in Islam and this poses a major challenge to Khushali banks to extend credit in an efficient and

profitable manner that is Shariah compliant. A study by Isler (2010) revealed an efficiency gap

in conventional and Khushali microfinance products. He proposed that the gap can be bridged by

improving the nature of products offered by Khushali banks. He proposed a study to understand

the nature of products that can improve the profitability of banks.

A study in Bangladesh (Hossain and Siwar,2008) explores the prospects and problems of

Khushali micro finance uncover the untapped opportunity. Ahmed (2009) argues that customer

satisfaction and service quality has weak influence on the performance of Khushali banks in

Pakistan.


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1.2 Aims of the Research

Research in the area of Khushali micro finance and its role in empowerment of women

entrepreneurs is considered to be important in order to deal with the issues of easy access and

interest free Khushali micro finance products for the welfare of Women in particular and society

as a whole . Specifically the studies on independent microfinance programs and

entrepreneurship are less researched areas (Islam, 2009). The emerging field of Khushali

banking and Khushali micro finance is characterized with lack of comprehensive knowledge on

the nature of Khushali micro finance products and their efficiency in serving the women.

The primary aim of this study is to explore the role of Khushali microfinance products in the

empowerment of women Entrepreneurs in Pakistan. This study will bring out the perspective of

women entrepreneurs on challenges faced by them in accessing the Khushali microfinance

products due to the nature of the products. The study will further examine the perceptions of

managers of Khushali microfinance institutions about the inherent issues and prospects in

offering Khushali micro finance products to women entrepreneurs.

1.3 Research Objectives:

To assess the effectiveness of Micro-Finance program through Khushali Bank for women

in Pakistan.

To analyze the significance of Micro - Finance on women empowerment in Pakistan

To investigate the contribution of Micro - Finance on economic development of a country

1.4 Research Questions

What role does microfinance play in the economic empowerment of women Entrepreneurs in

Pakistan?

What are the challenges faced by women entrepreneurs' in accessing the microfinance in

Khushali Bank?

What are the reasons behind the limited offering of microfinance products by Khushali Bank

in Pakistan?

What changes are required in the Khushali micro finance products to cater to the needs of

women entrepreneurs'?


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Chapter #2

LITERATURE REVIEW

Women often play a sovereign role in the business and professional life by undertaking their own

small scale enterprises (Warren, 2001). New theories of economic growth also take this into

consideration that gender equality is a fundamental part for economic development and the role


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of women to increase as economic well being of the society (Klasen and Wink, 2002). Gender

inequality inversely impacts on agriculture and industrial productivity (Blackden and Bhanu,

1999; World Bank, 2006).

Krishnaraj and Kay (2002) have defined the role of women empowerment and microfinance:

In Bangladesh, women have been shown a good deal of empowerment in their capacity to

articulate their needs and receptivity to new ideas. More impressive was the emergence of

womens groups as a dynamic, articulate constituency These observations and interviews come

out to certify the conclusions of other studies (Cheston and Kuhn, 2002).

MICROFINANCE IN PAKISTAN The work of microfinance started in Pakistan at the early

1980s. Aga Khan rural support program (AKRSP) was the first microfinance institute in Pakistan

which started to provide micro credit in northern area of Pakistan. In 1982 Orangi pilot project

Karachi was launched under AKRSP. Later (1990) on the model of AKRSP was extended across

the country and established National Rural Support Program which was provided country wide

microfinance facilities but the provided facilities were not sufficient according to the requirement

of Pakistan economy. In 1996 it was established as a microfinance bank, that is, Kashaf

foundation. In 1998, Pakistan micro-finance network was designed, which played a very

important role to provide microfinance facilities in Pakistan. Further, Pakistan poverty

alleviation fund (PPAF) was allocated in 2000 which provided funds to microfinance banks and

SBP (State Bank of Pakistan) established a separate unit for it. The government of Pakistan is

also creating different financial institute which provide microfinance facilities.

Leading microfinance institution in Pakistan Highlighted a portfolio position of

microfinance institution of Pakistan Microfinance institutions strive enables women to

participate in the professional activities. How much this objective has been achieved is still a

question mark with reference to microfinance providers in Pakistan. Apart from this, there are

certain hurdles on the way for women pertaining to the access to microfinance services. Figures2 and 3 depicts scenario of the issues.


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Chapter 3: Methodology:

According to Saunders (2007) Research methodology provides a crucial role for investigating a

phenomenon in a particular research, methodological issues regarding this research could be

followed according to the following structure:


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3.1 Research Philosophy:

The purpose of this research is to explore the Empowering the women through microfinance in

Pakistan. Researcher has decided to follow realism approach which is the combination of both

positivism and interpretivism philosophy, to achieve research objective of this study by adopting

positivism approach some well-established variables have been standardized. On the other hand

to solve more complex and complicated variables interpretivism philosophy has been adopted.

3.2 Research Approach:

To conduct this research inductive approach will be chosen because there is no existing

hypothesis and to avoid rigidness, inductive approach has been chosen.

3.3 Research Design:

Survey method would be applicable to conduct this research because data would be collected

from large scale respondents and survey is capable to obtain information from large samples of

the population.

3.4 Data Collection Method:

Questionnaire would be used to collect data to explore the effectiveness of microfinance to

empower the women in Pakistan by taking the Khushali bank as case study. This questionnaire

would be consists of several questions associated with micro finance, poverty alleviation and

management of credit by poor and uneducated people.

3.5 Quantitative Research:

This research would be conducted according to the quantitative nature of the research as it would

be difficult to analyse data based on qualitative nature from large scale of population.

3.6 Sampling:

Population of this research would be the women Khushali Bank Pakistan and sample size would

be 100.

3.7 Data Analysis:


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Summarizing, categorizing and structuring process with numerical analysis would be applied to

get maximum outcomes of this research. Several graphs, charts would be used to analyze data of

this research.

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The Aim of This Study is to Highlight the Role and Effectiveness of Microfinance in Empowering Women