Resource mobilization mechanisms by rural women in self-help groups in Amilobo Village, Omoro District

Abstract

The study investigated resource mobilization mechanisms by rural women in self helps groups in Omoro District. The study was necessitated by the fact that there are very few, if not lack of evidence to explain the resource mobilization mechanisms used by rural women in self- help groups in Amilobo village, Omoro district. The objectives of the study were to identify the commonly needed resources by rural women who are in self-help groups, to assess ways in which rural women in self-help groups attempt to mobilize these resources and the extent to which they have been successful and finally, to examine the challenges faced in mobilization of the needed resources. The participants in this study were members of SHGs in Amilobo village, Omoro district in Northern Uganda. The study used a qualitative-exploratory case study design. The primary methods of data collection were personal interviews and focused group discussions. These gave the researchers insights into the goals and structure of SHGs in Amilobo village, insights into the commonly needed resources, resource mobilization mechanisms and allowed the researcher to learn from the rural poor women themselves about how the groups benefited them and what problems the groups faced. The main findings of the study revealed that economic empowerment and training were the most commonly needed resource by rural women in self-help groups, farming, casual labour and petty businesses were most pronounced resource mobilization mechanisms used by rural women in self-help groups. The challenges the groups faced were not so much with the groups themselves, although there may be a few very minor structural problems with the groups, but with outside forces, mostly, financial, cultural and high commodity prices. Specifically, the Ugandan cultural views of women and the limited financial resources in many rural self-help groups hindered the impact of the groups.