SlideShare a Scribd company logo
1 of 8
Download to read offline
Impact of Village Saving and Loan Associations (VSLAs) in Rubengera Sector – Rwanda
JAERD
Impact of Village Saving and Loan Associations (VSLAs)
in Rubengera Sector – Rwanda
Ir. Mubashankwaya Isaac1*, Manyange Nyanchiri Remmy2
1*
Option of Rural Development - Department of Management and Development Studies - Faculty of Social sciences,
Management and Development Studies - University of Technology and Arts of Byumba, Rwanda.
2
Option of Entrepreneurship Development - Department of Management and Development Studies - Faculty of Social
sciences, Management and Development Studies – University of Technology and Arts of Byumba (UTAB), Rwanda.
The study aimed at studying the impact of VSLAs on sustainable development of rural population
of Rubengera Sector in Karongi District. A sample of 92 respondents were selected from the study
population of 2400 members of VSLAs in the study area using Alain Bouchard formula. The
respondents were selected with the help of simple random sampling techniques. Data collection
instruments included observation, focus group discussion, questionnaire and documentation. After
the collection of data, it was processed through editing, coding and tabulation; then analyzed with
comparative and statistical methods with the help of SPSS. After data analysis and interpretation
of the results, the researcher found out that VSLAs helped in the financial inclusion of different
categories. According to the profile of the respondents, the researcher found that VSLAs included
women, men and youth, people with different academic levels and professions.
In conclusion, all 92 sampled, 100% of the respondents confirmed that since the adoption of VSLAs,
there have been positive changes that have characterized the socioeconomic development of the
rural population in the study area. The sampled members of VSLAs confirmed that after joining
VSLAs, livelihood status have improved such as improvement in school enrolment, better health
status, better housing and improvement in income level. Furthermore, findings revealed that after
joining VSLAs, most of the members have shifted to upper categories of Ubudehe program.
Key words: Impact, VSLA, Rubengera Sector, Rwanda.
INTRODUCTION
The vast majority of the world’s poor live in rural areas of
developing countries with very limited infrastructure. Rural
economies are characterized by long time spans between
input and output of the agricultural production, uncertainty
and weather dependency. This makes the ability to smooth
consumption, to access credit and to employ risk coping
strategies very important for household living under such
circumstances (Conning and Udry, 2007).
Seventy percent of the world’s poorest live in rural areas
in developing countries with poor access to finance.
Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs) have
become an increasingly widespread intervention aimed at
improving local financial intermediation (Christopher,
2013). Although during the last decades’ microfinance
institutions have provided millions of people access to
financial services, but provision of access in rural areas
remains a major challenge.
*Corresponding author: Ir. Mubashankwaya Isaac.
Option of Rural Development - Department of
Management and Development Studies - Faculty of Social
sciences, Management and Development Studies -
University of Technology and Arts of Byumba (UTAB) –
P.O. Box 25 Byumba – Gicumbi – Rwanda.
E-mail: isaacdabraham@yahoo.fr. Tel.: +250788442842.
Journal of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development
Vol. 3(1), pp. 176-183, June, 2017. © www.premierpublishers.org. ISSN: 2167-0477
Review Article
Impact of Village Saving and Loan Associations (VSLAs) in Rubengera Sector – Rwanda
Isaac and Remmy 177
It is costly for microfinance organizations to reach the rural
poor, and as a consequence the great majority of them
lack any access to formal financial services. Traditional
community methods of saving, such as the Rotating
Savings and credit Associations called ROSCAs can
provide an opportunity to save, but they do not allow
savers to earn interest on their deposits as a formal
account would. In addition, ROSCAs do not provide a
means for borrowing at will because each member makes
a regular deposit to the common fund, only one lottery-
selected member is able to keep the proceeds from each
meeting. Nevertheless, the history of rural financial
intermediation is not encouraging and the recent explosive
growth in microfinance globally has concentrated in urban
and semi-urban areas (Allen and Panetta 2010).
Growing evidence highlights that for poor households,
savings is a much higher priority than borrowing, as
savings builds assets and can help to address risks as well
as planned lifecycle events in traditional places where the
poor save money are often at risk of theft or temptation
(Collins et al, 2009).
To speed up the financial inclusion of rural people, VSLAs
have been introduced by CARE International in all the
countries members of East African Community including:
Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and Rwanda. The
same author argues that a policy on financial inclusion
should focus on ensuring the poor have convenient and
affordable access to the financial products that they need
to manage their households and businesses. These
products may come from either formal or informal
providers (Chidiac, 2011).
According to Jan Maes (2007), Rwanda is a small land-
locked country in Central Africa, with a very high
population density of 328 inhabitants per square kilometer.
While microcredit organizations in Rwanda barely reach
the rural poor, the Banques Populaires have a strong
presence in rural areas, but focused until recently for the
most part on less poor people (such as salaried people,
traders, and cash crop farmers). The Rwandan population
is expected to double to around 16 million by 2020. Given
that the major aspiration of Vision 2020 is to transform
Rwanda’s economy into a middle income country (per
capita income of about 900 USD per year, from 220 USD
in 2000), this will require an annual growth rate of at least
7%. This will not be achieved unless we transform from a
subsistence agriculture economy to a knowledge -based
society, with high levels of savings and private investment,
thereby reducing the country’s dependence on external
aid. To achieve a more sustainable economic growth and
development, Rwanda needs a deepened, broadened and
developed financial system, well regulated and
competitive, an inclusive and financially literate population
to accelerate growth (MINECOFIN, 2013).
By having access to savings services and small loans,
members can smooth irregular income patterns and meet
basic household consumption needs rather than taking on
significant debt they may be unable to repay. And when
they do borrow from the VSLA, loan sizes are generally
small and manageable. According to Allen (2002), the
approach of VSLAs is characterized by a focus on savings,
asset building, and the provision of credit proportionate to
the needs and repayment capacities of the borrowers.
Groups are of low-cost, simple to manage and can be seen
as a first step for people to reach a more formal and wider
array of financial services. VSLAs can dramatically raise
the self-respect of individual members and help to build up
social capital within communities, particularly among
women.
According to Mkoma et al (2009), VSLAs are most
successful in economically dynamic urban areas, where
investment opportunities abound; the borrowing
requirements of small-scale enterprises are high; income
streams are regular and diverse and the cost of reaching
clients is low. But 30 years since the start of the
microfinance revolution, people who live in many rural
areas and urban slums, and in particular those who are
very poor, have a difficult time gaining access to useful
microfinance products. Surprisingly, this is often the case
in countries with a well-developed microfinance sector, a
fact that is becoming increasingly evident as the industry
matures.
VSLAs, based in the community, are complementary to
Microfinance Institution (MFIs), tending to serve the very
poor whose income is irregular and less reliable and who
may not be full-time business people. Their principal need
is for services that help them manage their household
cash-flow and provide useful lump sums for life-cycle
events which may or may not include income generation.
These people are more likely to be economically
vulnerable and, for the most part, they live in rural areas
that are served only intermittently by local markets, at the
periphery of the national economy (Mkoma et al, 2009).
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Study area
Rubengera sector is one of 13 sectors of Karongi district
in Western province of Rwanda. According to NISR
(2012), Rubengera sector has 33,005 inhabitants including
15,481 males and 17,524 females and the density of 697
inhabitants /Km2. The main economic activity is agriculture
and the main cash crop grown is coffee whereas food
crops include cassava, beans, bananas, potatoes,
vegetables, and fruits. Apart from agriculture that occupies
more than 85% of the population, other economic activities
Impact of Village Saving and Loan Associations (VSLAs) in Rubengera Sector – Rwanda
J. Agric. Econ. Rural Devel. 178
include: fishing, handcraft, and trade. Rubengera sector
has 10 cooperatives including 6 farming cooperatives.
Rubengera sector is composed of 5 administrative cells.
The relief generally composed hills whereby the estimate
terrain elevation above sea level is 2064 m. The sector is
located at latitude of -2°7'46.56" and Longitude of
29°21'42.19".
Population and sampling size
The target population for this study included 2400
members of VSLAs in Rubengera sector. For the purpose
of this study, the sample size was determined according to
the formula of Alain Bouchard with the size of the random
sample of 96 individuals, a margin error of 5% and a
precision of 95%. The formula used is given below:









nN
nN
nc .
N = the number of whole population.
cn = The sample to be examined
n= 96 as the size of the random sample
NB: 96 is a number used by A. Bouchard which represent
the height of a sample for finished universe.
Therefore, the sample size is equal to:









962400
962400
cn .







2496
230400
cn
92cn
Therefore, the sample size of this study was equal to 92
respondents and the researcher used simple random
sampling technique whereby each member of VSLAs had
a chance of being selected for the sample.
Data collection
The questionnaire was prepared in local language
(Kinyarwanda) that is supposed to be known by all the
respondents and translated into English. To collect primary
data, we used questionnaire composed of open-ended
and closed-ended questions and it was administered to all
92 members of VSLAs for the study. For the period of the
distribution of questionnaires, the researcher ensured that
questions were understood in the same way. This method
had advantages for both literate and illiterate respondents
to reply well.
Statistical analysis
The researcher used frequency, percentage, and mean
rank distribution to determine the socio-demographic
characteristics of the respondents and show the impact of
VSLAs on the sustainable development of rural population
in Rubengera sector. Statistical package for social studies
(SPSS) was used to facilitate the statistical analysis.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
Socio economic characteristics
Different variables were examined to obtain information
about the socio-demographic characteristics of
respondents. The main variables were: gender, age,
marital status, education level, and time spent in VSLA.
As shown in Table 1, out of 92 sampled respondents,
26.1% were males while 73.9% were females. The
philosophy of VSLAs is financial inclusion of marginalized
people including women and more efforts have been made
by local administration to sensitize women on the benefits
of joining VSLAs.
Access to a formal savings account has substantial
positive impacts on women’s productive investment levels
and expenditures, and also makes women less vulnerable
to various shocks. There are substantial positive impacts
of participation in microfinance programs, specifically in
the areas of eradicating poverty, promoting children’s
education, improving health outcomes for women and
children, and empowering women (Daley-Harris, 2009).
Although women are responsible for much of the country’s
economic activity, especially in agriculture and informal
business, economic opportunities are often markedly
different for men and women. Creating opportunities for
women can help not only to women empowerment, but
also to unlock the full economic potential of their country
(Ellis et al. 2007).
As depicted in the table above, 7.6% of the respondents
were under twenty, 40.2% were between twenty and thirty-
five years old, 41.3% were between thirty-six and sixty
while 10.9% were above sixty years old. From these
statistics, the majority of the respondents were adults while
the minority of the respondents where people under twenty
years old. However, these statistics show that all the age
ranges were represented: youth, active adults and retired
people. This implied that those who belonged to active and
productive age brackets belong to VSLAs simply because
they have materialistic urge, while contrary situation
prevailed for those who fall within the aged group who are
mainly concerned with food security.
The findings indicate that 38% of the respondents were
married, 29.3% were widowed, and 7.6% were divorced
while 25% were single. From the above results, most of
the respondents were married people while the least
represented respondents were divorced, this implies that
the highest number of respondents are married. However,
the sample comprised other categories including widowers
or widows and single people. These statistics were due to
Impact of Village Saving and Loan Associations (VSLAs) in Rubengera Sector – Rwanda
Isaac and Remmy 179
Table 1. Socio-economic characteristics of respondents
Gender Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Male 24 26.1 26.1 26.1
Female 68 73.9 73.9 100.0
Total 92 100.0 100.0
Age group
Valid Under 20 years 7 7.6 7.6 7.6
Between 20 and 35 years 37 40.2 40.2 47.8
Between 36 and 60 years 38 41.3 41.3 89.1
Above 60 10 10.9 10.9 100.0
Total 92 100.0 100.0
Marital status
Valid Married 35 38.0 38.0 38.0
Widowed 27 29.3 29.3 67.4
Divorced 7 7.6 7.6 75.0
Single 23 25.0 25.0 100.0
Total 92 100.0 100.0
Education level
Valid No formal education 7 7.6 7.6 7.6
Primary 56 60.9 60.9 68.5
Ordinary level 9 9.8 9.8 78.3
Secondary ( advanced level) 12 13.0 13.0 91.3
Higher education 8 8.7 8.7 100.0
Total 92 100.0 100.0
Table 2. Main function
Valid Farmer 34 37.0 37.0 37.0
Handcraft 13 14.1 14.1 51.1
Trading 12 13.0 13.0 64.1
Employees 8 8.7 8.7 72.8
Others 25 27.2 27.2 100.0
Total 92 100.0 100.0
the fact that marriage increases household’s size and
therefore venture in increased production as a way of
finding means of solving financial problems, rising income
and increasing the possibility of financial access
(Seluhinga,2013).
From these statistics the researcher found that VSLAs
contributes to social inclusion of all people with different
marital status. They also include people who are assumed
to be vulnerable such as widows. Therefore, VSLAs
promote social relationships in Rubengera sector.
The findings reveal that 7.6% of the respondents had no
formal education, 60.9% had primary level of education,
9.8% had ordinary level, and 13% advanced secondary
education level whereas 8.7% had higher education level.
According to the above results, the majority of the
respondents had primary education level and the minority
had no formal education. It implies the highest number of
respondents had primary education while the lowest
respondents had no formal education.
According to Skoufias (1997), household from villages
without access to finance such as credit market tend to
reduce their children’s schooling when they suffer
transitory shocks than households with greater access to
financial services. This creates an advantage for the
sustainable development of people because all the
categories of people are actively involved in finance sector
regardless the education qualification.
As shown in Table 2, the farmers were represented by
37%, 14.1% were handcrafts, and 13.0% were traders,
8.7% were monthly paid employees while 27.2% had other
Impact of Village Saving and Loan Associations (VSLAs) in Rubengera Sector – Rwanda
J. Agric. Econ. Rural Devel. 180
Table 3. Changes realized due to VSLAs adoption
Development characteristics Frequency Percent
Creation of new income generation activities 92 100.0
Improved housing or community settlement
Increase of children attending schools
92
92
100.0
100.0
Improved social relationships 92 100.0
Increase of hygiene and sanitation infrastructures 92 100.0
Women empowerment 92 100.0
Improved health conditions 92 100.0
Improved living conditions 92 100.0
Increase of electricity and clean water connections
Increase of food security
92
92
100.0
100.0
professions like bricklayers, carpenters, hair dressers,
taxmen, and tailors. These findings show that the number
of people involved in agricultural activities were reduced
due to the presence of VSLAs in the study area and they
are now involved in other income generating activities
rather than farming activities. This implies that VSLAs
contribute to the creation of other income generating
activities apart from agriculture in rural areas.
Impact of VSLAs on socio economic development of
the respondents
This part sums up the view of respondents about the socio-
economic indicators generated from VSLAs in Rubengera
sector. The respondents were given a chance to select the
development characteristics among the following choices:
creation of new income generating activities, improved
human settlement, increase of children attending schools,
improved social relationships, increase of hygiene and
sanitation infrastructures, women empowerment,
improved health status, increase in electricity and clean
water connections and increase in food security.
In the table 3, all respondents confirmed that there is a
remarkable achievement in the socioeconomic
development due to the adoption of VSLAs in Rubengera
sector. From these results, the researcher found that
VSLAs contributed to poverty alleviation in Rubengera
sector.
Since the adoption of VSLAs in Rubengera sector, there
has been creation of new income generation activities. As
asserted by Czukas et al. (1998), in much of the rural
developing world, credit and credit markets are indeed
absent or highly imperfect. Rural households in developing
countries face considerable risk in their income generation
process, a consequence of engaging in inherently risky
rain fed agriculture and casual low-paid wage jobs in the
informal sector (Czukas et al, 1998).
According to MINALOC (2012), the economy of Rwanda is
currently characterized by internal (budget deficit) and
external (Balance of Payments) macroeconomic
disequilibria, alongside low savings and investment rates
and unemployment and underemployment. VSLA program
come to support, the rural population of Rubengera Sector
to overcome the above challenges through creating new
income generating activities. The members of VSLAs
could invest loans or share out in new small businesses.
The businesses include modern farming such as
mushrooms growing, bee keeping, carpentry, hair
dressing, retail trading, electronic funds transfer services
(Mobile money), bicycle and motorbike transport without
forgetting the extension cash crops farming especially
coffee growing.
In terms of human settlement development, the findings
showed that some of the members of VSLAs associations
had used loans and share out for improving their houses
or shifting from grass thatched houses. According to
Besley et al. (1993), the main benefit of VSLAs is to allow
members to acquire durable goods faster than they would
be able to if saving for it individually. Since VSLAs provide
their members with relatively large one-off lump sum
money, they may also help to overcome barriers to entry
to more lucrative opportunities.
The report of Rubengera sector (2013) stated that the
school dropout decreased from 7.1% to 1.10% in 2010 for
primary and from 8% to 3% for secondary education level
in 2013. Jacoby (1994), in similar study, indicated that lack
of access to finance reduced the likelihood that poor
households send their children to school. Formal
microfinance however does not tend to reach the ultra-
poor. The ultra-poor often live in the most isolated rural
areas, deprived of any infrastructure that would make the
provision of formal microfinance operationally feasible or
financially attractive. Therefore, financial self-help groups
Impact of Village Saving and Loan Associations (VSLAs) in Rubengera Sector – Rwanda
Isaac and Remmy 181
Table 4. Distribution of respondents according to Ubudehe category
Ubudehe category Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Category 1 28 30.4 30.4 30.4
Category 2 51 55.4 55.4 85.9
Category 3
Category 4
13
0
14.1
0.0
14.1
0.0
100.0
100.0
Total 92 100.0 100.0
Table 5. Access to clean water and electricity
Infrastructure Frequency Percent
Electricity 34 36.9%
Clean water 86 93.4%
which provide basic savings and lending facilities have
existed for a long time in many developing countries
(Besley et al. 1993).
This implies that VSLAs among other factors contributed
to the stability of education in Rubengera sector; because
with VSLAs the parents increased their ability to pay
school materials and school facilitation fees for their
children.
The results of the study found that VSLAs improved all
levels of social relationships in Rubengera sector through
interaction between the populations. Therefore, VSLAs
has greatly contributed to improvement of social
relationship because they have allowed the social
inclusion of all categories of people and they have targeted
more vulnerable and marginalized people such as widows,
people with disabilities, women, orphans, and the poorest.
According to the report from Rubengera sector the
households living in conflicts decreased from 121 in 2010
to 45 households in 2013. As mentioned in the report, this
decrease was due to different factors including:
improvement of women status, umugoroba w’ababyeyi
program, and community policing (Rubengera sector,
2013). Development involves changes to socio-economic
structures including ownership, the organization of
production, technology, the institutional structure and laws
(Cambridge, 1995).
Khandker (2005) find that microfinance programs help the
poor through consumption smoothing and asset building
and have additional positive effects on human capital
formation. In addition, there are significant externalities on
the village level, with microfinance raising the standards of
living of non-participants in program villages and benefiting
especially the ultra-poor. The main merit of microfinance is
that it allows existing self-employment activities (small
businesses) to expand and invest in durable goods. In line
with this, there seems to be a heterogeneous impact on
consumption: Households with a pre-existing business
activity decrease overall consumption and non-durable
consumption especially (to allow additional business
investments to be made), while households without an
existing business increase their non-durable consumption.
In order to assess how the living conditions of the people
of Rubengera sector improved due to the adoption of
VSLAs, the researcher carried out a study on ubudehe
categories of the respondents after joining VSLAs. As
showed in the table 4, before and after joining VSLAs, the
researcher found that ubudehe categories of the
respondents changed positively after joining VSLAs
program. The majority of the respondents changed from
category one to category two and others from category two
to category three. This implies that VSLAs contributed to
the socio economic development of the rural population of
Rubengera sector, because the majority of VSLAs
members had their living conditions improved.
Also, the study found that VSLAs contributed to increase
access to clean water and electricity connections in
Rubengera sector. Some of the respondents confirmed
that they had used their share out or loans from VSLAs to
pay water or electricity connections. This was confirmed in
the table 5 where 36.9% of respondents have access to
electricity and 93.4% have access to clean water.
Banerjee and Morella (2011) argued that many diseases
were the leading cause of infant mortality and malnutrition.
Therefore, infrastructural development, entailing improved
transport links, energy and water supplies and ICT
networks; is the priority for Rwanda in order to ensure the
sustainable development. Rwanda intends reaching 100%
of access to clean water and 70% of access to electricity
by 2017 (MINALOC, 2013). According to EWSA (2014),
the strategic objectives include: Electricity grid
connections to increase from 200,000 in 2011 to a total of
1,200,000 by 2017, which will be equivalent to 70% of
access; to generate 1,000 MW from both the indigenous
energy resources and from shared energy resources with
neighboring countries; electrify 100% of schools, 100% of
health facilities and 100% of sector offices by 2017, either
through connection to the grid or through reliable off-grid
Impact of Village Saving and Loan Associations (VSLAs) in Rubengera Sector – Rwanda
J. Agric. Econ. Rural Devel. 182
Table 6. View of respondents about health changes
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Improved 87 94.6 94.6 94.6
Stayed the same
Worsened
Total
5
0
92
5.4
0.0
100.0
5.4
0.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
systems; to have 100 percent of all Rwandan population
access clean water by 2017 from 74% by the end of 2010.
By the end of 2013, the electricity access was 17% while
access to clean water was 85% at national level. From the
above data, the researcher found that the access to clean
water and electricity in Rubenga sector is better in
comparison with other areas of Rwanda.
For the health sector, Table 6 shows that health situation
of 94.6% of VSLAs members improved when they joined
VSLAs whereas 5.4% believed that health of their
household’s members had remained the same. From the
above results, the researcher concluded that VSLAs
contributes to improvement of health status of household
members who participated in VSLAs. This health
improvement is justified by the fact that VSLAs increase
the ability of their members to pay health insurance for
their families from loans, savings, and dividends.
VSLAs also increased the food security in Rubengera
sector because, through loans and share out the farmers
increased the agriculture production as shown in Table 3.
VSLAs have provided more ability of purchasing
agriculture entrants to boost agricultural production. Due
to VSLAs new modern farming activities have been
created in Rubengera. The activities include mushroom
growing, modern poultry and pig, and bee keeping without
forgetting modern horticulture. Therefore, the farmers
could increase the quality and quantity of agricultural
production.
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
The VSLAs offer the easiest benefits of saving, borrowing,
and earning to rural population with low income; and
participation in the VSLAs would result in improvements of
social economic development indicators like: Employment,
health, education, food security, shelters, and rural
infrastructures. 100% of the respondents confirmed that
since the adoption of VSLAs; the socio economic
development of Rubengera sector were characterized by
creation of new income generation activities, improved
housing or community settlement, increase of children
attending schools, improved social relationships, increase
of hygiene and sanitation infrastructures, women
empowerment, improved health conditions, increase of
connection to electricity grid and to clean water, and
increase of food security. Also it contributed to poverty
alleviation, reduction of school dropout, and an increase of
people having mutual health insurance in Rubengera
sector.
In light of the findings of this research, the researcher
provides the following recommendations in order to
improve the effectiveness of VSLAs in Rubengera Sector:
The government of Rwanda could link other programs
aiming at boosting the sustainable development of rural
people, such as VUP and BDF with VSLAs program for
promoting the culture of saving and entrepreneurship in
rural areas. The local leaders could follow up the
operations of VSLAs in order to prevent any fraudulent
actions that may lead to the discouragement of VSLAs
members.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The author would like to thank all VSLAs members and
local leaders in Rubengera Sector for providing the
relevant information to conduct this research work.
REFERENCES
Allen, Hugh CARE (2002) Microfinance for the Rural Poor
that Works. International’s VSL Program in Africa.
Arlene (2005). Conducting Research Literature Reviews:
From the Internet to Paper. 2nd ed. Thousand Oaks, CA:
Sage.
Bailey (2001). Methods of Social Research. Free Press,
New York
Banerjee and Morella, (2011) Increasing access to
infrastructure for Africa’s rural poor. UNICEF
Besley, T., Coate, S., and Loury, G. (1993). “The
economics of rotating savings and credit associations.”
American Economic Review 83(4): 792.
Chidiac, S. (2011). Village Savings and Loans: A Pathway
to Financial Inclusion for Africa’s Poorest Households,
Access Africa, CARE USA: Dares lama
Czukas, K., Fafchamps, M., and Udry, C. (1998). Drought
and saving in West Africa: Are livestock a buffer stock?
Journal of Development Economics, 55, 273
Corbridge, S. (ed.) (1995). Development Studies a
Reader. Arnold: London:
Daryl C, Jonathan M, Stuart R, Ruthven RO (2009). Portfolios
Impact of Village Saving and Loan Associations (VSLAs) in Rubengera Sector – Rwanda
Isaac and Remmy 183
of the Poor: How the World’s Poor live on $2 a day.
Princeton University Press
Corbridge, S. (ed.) (1995). Development Studies a
Reader. Arnold: London
Daley-Harris, S. (2009). State of the Microcredit Summit
Campaign Report 2009. Washington D.C.: Microcredit
Summit Campaign.
Ellis, A., M. Blackden, J. Cutura, F. MacCulloch, and H.
Seebans (2007). Gender and
Economic Growth: Creating Opportunities for Women.
World Bank: Washington, D.C.
Jacob, H. (1994). Borrowing Constraints and Progress
through school: Evidence from Peru “The Review of
Economics and Statistics 76 (7): 151-160.
Jan Maes, (2007). Linkages between CARE’s VS and Las
with Financial Institutions in Rwanda. CARE, Rwanda.
Khandker, S. (2005). “Microfinance and Poverty:
Evidence Using Panel Data from Bangladesh.” World
Bank Economic Review 19(2): 263-286.
Linda Westfall, (2009) Sampling methods, ASQ Quality
Press: UK
Littlefield, E., J. Morduch, and S. Hashemi (2003). Is
Microfinance an Effective Strategy to Reach the
Millennium Development Goals? CGAP’s Focus Note
Series.
Metin, K., Asli, O. and Ertac, S., (2003) ‘Determinants of
private savings behavior in Turkey’, Applied Economics,
v. 35, 12, pp. 1405-1416.
MINECOFIN, (2013). Rwanda financial sector strategy:
MINECOFIN, Kigali
Seluhinga, Simon, (2013:76). Determinants of the
probability of obtaining formal financial services in
Tanzania. Journal of Sustainable Development in Africa
(Volume 15, No.2, 2013)
Puja Mondal, (2013) Rural Community: Top 10
Characteristics of the Rural Community– Explained! YAL
Ltd, New deli.
Thirlwall, A., 2002, ‘The mobilization of savings for growth
and development in developing countries’, Icfai
University Journal of Applied Economics, 1, 1, pp. 7-30.
Mkoma et al, (2009) Village Savings and Loan
Associations (VSLAs), Field Operations Manual. VSL
Associates LTD
Accepted 02 May, 2017
Citation: Isaac M and Remmy M (2017). Impact of Village
Saving and Loan Associations (VSLAs) in Rubengera
Sector – Rwanda. Journal of Agricultural Economics and
Rural Development, 3(1): 176-183.
Copyright: © 2017 Isaac and Remmy. This is an open-
access article distributed under the terms of the Creative
Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted
use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium,
provided the original author and source are cited.

More Related Content

What's hot

Role of microfinance in poverty allevation
Role of microfinance in poverty allevationRole of microfinance in poverty allevation
Role of microfinance in poverty allevationDinesh Adhikari
 
Madam humaira's persentation on world bank
Madam humaira's persentation on world bankMadam humaira's persentation on world bank
Madam humaira's persentation on world bankOm Parkash
 
Microfinance and rural women empowerment in the kpandai district of ghana
Microfinance and rural women empowerment in the kpandai district of ghanaMicrofinance and rural women empowerment in the kpandai district of ghana
Microfinance and rural women empowerment in the kpandai district of ghanaAlexander Decker
 
World Bank Internship Presentation
World Bank Internship PresentationWorld Bank Internship Presentation
World Bank Internship Presentationtchykita
 
Humiston.monday
Humiston.mondayHumiston.monday
Humiston.mondaynado-web
 
Unsgsa annual report september 2014 financial inclusion a path to empowerment...
Unsgsa annual report september 2014 financial inclusion a path to empowerment...Unsgsa annual report september 2014 financial inclusion a path to empowerment...
Unsgsa annual report september 2014 financial inclusion a path to empowerment...Dr Lendy Spires
 
Chapter 1 Introduction Finca Micro Finance Bank
Chapter  1 Introduction Finca Micro Finance Bank Chapter  1 Introduction Finca Micro Finance Bank
Chapter 1 Introduction Finca Micro Finance Bank Aamir Gill
 
Microfinance
MicrofinanceMicrofinance
Microfinancesnb9899
 
International Monetary Fund World Bank
International Monetary Fund World BankInternational Monetary Fund World Bank
International Monetary Fund World Bankساجد علی
 
Impact of microcredit in the context of Bangladesh
Impact of microcredit in the context of BangladeshImpact of microcredit in the context of Bangladesh
Impact of microcredit in the context of BangladeshA H
 
Steering Committee-Apr2014- Equity & Engagement Committee Update
Steering Committee-Apr2014- Equity & Engagement Committee UpdateSteering Committee-Apr2014- Equity & Engagement Committee Update
Steering Committee-Apr2014- Equity & Engagement Committee UpdateHeartland2050
 
Commercial Microfinance Effectiveness
Commercial Microfinance EffectivenessCommercial Microfinance Effectiveness
Commercial Microfinance EffectivenessMatthew Bonshor
 
Rural women entrepreneurship development in ovia north east, edo state, nigeria
Rural women entrepreneurship development in ovia north east, edo state, nigeriaRural women entrepreneurship development in ovia north east, edo state, nigeria
Rural women entrepreneurship development in ovia north east, edo state, nigeriaAlexander Decker
 
Microfinance main
Microfinance mainMicrofinance main
Microfinance mainspicyben
 
The role of microfinance institutions in poverty reduction and women’s empowe...
The role of microfinance institutions in poverty reduction and women’s empowe...The role of microfinance institutions in poverty reduction and women’s empowe...
The role of microfinance institutions in poverty reduction and women’s empowe...Alexander Decker
 

What's hot (20)

Role of microfinance in poverty allevation
Role of microfinance in poverty allevationRole of microfinance in poverty allevation
Role of microfinance in poverty allevation
 
Madam humaira's persentation on world bank
Madam humaira's persentation on world bankMadam humaira's persentation on world bank
Madam humaira's persentation on world bank
 
Microfinance and rural women empowerment in the kpandai district of ghana
Microfinance and rural women empowerment in the kpandai district of ghanaMicrofinance and rural women empowerment in the kpandai district of ghana
Microfinance and rural women empowerment in the kpandai district of ghana
 
Tmuj p1
Tmuj p1Tmuj p1
Tmuj p1
 
World Bank Internship Presentation
World Bank Internship PresentationWorld Bank Internship Presentation
World Bank Internship Presentation
 
Humiston.monday
Humiston.mondayHumiston.monday
Humiston.monday
 
Unsgsa annual report september 2014 financial inclusion a path to empowerment...
Unsgsa annual report september 2014 financial inclusion a path to empowerment...Unsgsa annual report september 2014 financial inclusion a path to empowerment...
Unsgsa annual report september 2014 financial inclusion a path to empowerment...
 
Chapter 1 Introduction Finca Micro Finance Bank
Chapter  1 Introduction Finca Micro Finance Bank Chapter  1 Introduction Finca Micro Finance Bank
Chapter 1 Introduction Finca Micro Finance Bank
 
The World Bank
The World Bank The World Bank
The World Bank
 
Final project
Final projectFinal project
Final project
 
Microfinance
MicrofinanceMicrofinance
Microfinance
 
AINT Micro Finance Report
AINT Micro Finance ReportAINT Micro Finance Report
AINT Micro Finance Report
 
International Monetary Fund World Bank
International Monetary Fund World BankInternational Monetary Fund World Bank
International Monetary Fund World Bank
 
Impact of microcredit in the context of Bangladesh
Impact of microcredit in the context of BangladeshImpact of microcredit in the context of Bangladesh
Impact of microcredit in the context of Bangladesh
 
Steering Committee-Apr2014- Equity & Engagement Committee Update
Steering Committee-Apr2014- Equity & Engagement Committee UpdateSteering Committee-Apr2014- Equity & Engagement Committee Update
Steering Committee-Apr2014- Equity & Engagement Committee Update
 
Commercial Microfinance Effectiveness
Commercial Microfinance EffectivenessCommercial Microfinance Effectiveness
Commercial Microfinance Effectiveness
 
Fair Credit and Fair Housing in the Wake of the Subprime and Foreclosure Crisis
Fair Credit and Fair Housing in the Wake of the Subprime and Foreclosure CrisisFair Credit and Fair Housing in the Wake of the Subprime and Foreclosure Crisis
Fair Credit and Fair Housing in the Wake of the Subprime and Foreclosure Crisis
 
Rural women entrepreneurship development in ovia north east, edo state, nigeria
Rural women entrepreneurship development in ovia north east, edo state, nigeriaRural women entrepreneurship development in ovia north east, edo state, nigeria
Rural women entrepreneurship development in ovia north east, edo state, nigeria
 
Microfinance main
Microfinance mainMicrofinance main
Microfinance main
 
The role of microfinance institutions in poverty reduction and women’s empowe...
The role of microfinance institutions in poverty reduction and women’s empowe...The role of microfinance institutions in poverty reduction and women’s empowe...
The role of microfinance institutions in poverty reduction and women’s empowe...
 

Similar to Impact of Village Saving and Loan Associations (VSLAs) in Rubengera Sector – Rwanda

IJSRED-V2I4P18
IJSRED-V2I4P18IJSRED-V2I4P18
IJSRED-V2I4P18IJSRED
 
140301050136 igidr poor financial inclusion in rural areas of chhattisgarh
140301050136 igidr poor financial inclusion in rural areas of chhattisgarh140301050136 igidr poor financial inclusion in rural areas of chhattisgarh
140301050136 igidr poor financial inclusion in rural areas of chhattisgarhgudu123
 
An evaluation of microfinance services on poverty alleviation in kisii county...
An evaluation of microfinance services on poverty alleviation in kisii county...An evaluation of microfinance services on poverty alleviation in kisii county...
An evaluation of microfinance services on poverty alleviation in kisii county...Alexander Decker
 
Strategy for Financing Family Farming in the West Region of Cameroon
Strategy for Financing Family Farming in the West Region of CameroonStrategy for Financing Family Farming in the West Region of Cameroon
Strategy for Financing Family Farming in the West Region of CameroonAI Publications
 
Whitepaper - Can Nanofinance Eradicate Poverty.pdf
Whitepaper - Can Nanofinance Eradicate Poverty.pdfWhitepaper - Can Nanofinance Eradicate Poverty.pdf
Whitepaper - Can Nanofinance Eradicate Poverty.pdfFINAP Worldwide
 
Financial Inclusion and Rural Development
Financial Inclusion and Rural DevelopmentFinancial Inclusion and Rural Development
Financial Inclusion and Rural DevelopmentAntonio Sendi
 
Determinants of Micro Finance Accessibility among Tomato Farmers in Kokona Lo...
Determinants of Micro Finance Accessibility among Tomato Farmers in Kokona Lo...Determinants of Micro Finance Accessibility among Tomato Farmers in Kokona Lo...
Determinants of Micro Finance Accessibility among Tomato Farmers in Kokona Lo...AI Publications
 
Determinants of Micro Finance Accessibility among Tomato Farmers in Kokona Lo...
Determinants of Micro Finance Accessibility among Tomato Farmers in Kokona Lo...Determinants of Micro Finance Accessibility among Tomato Farmers in Kokona Lo...
Determinants of Micro Finance Accessibility among Tomato Farmers in Kokona Lo...AI Publications
 
Effect of operational guidelines of bank of agriculture on loan disbursment a...
Effect of operational guidelines of bank of agriculture on loan disbursment a...Effect of operational guidelines of bank of agriculture on loan disbursment a...
Effect of operational guidelines of bank of agriculture on loan disbursment a...Alexander Decker
 
AGRICULTURAL COOPERATIVE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT IN ANAMBRA STATE.pdf
AGRICULTURAL COOPERATIVE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT IN ANAMBRA STATE.pdfAGRICULTURAL COOPERATIVE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT IN ANAMBRA STATE.pdf
AGRICULTURAL COOPERATIVE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT IN ANAMBRA STATE.pdfLori Head
 
11.the role of micro credit and micro finance institutions (mf is)
11.the role of micro credit and micro finance institutions (mf is)11.the role of micro credit and micro finance institutions (mf is)
11.the role of micro credit and micro finance institutions (mf is)Alexander Decker
 
Microfinance banks and entrepreneurship development in nigeria
Microfinance banks and entrepreneurship development in nigeriaMicrofinance banks and entrepreneurship development in nigeria
Microfinance banks and entrepreneurship development in nigeriaAlexander Decker
 
TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES IN MICROFINANCE BANKS AND ECONOMIC GROWTH IN NIGERIA
TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES IN MICROFINANCE BANKS AND ECONOMIC GROWTH IN NIGERIATECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES IN MICROFINANCE BANKS AND ECONOMIC GROWTH IN NIGERIA
TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES IN MICROFINANCE BANKS AND ECONOMIC GROWTH IN NIGERIAIAEME Publication
 
EFFECT OF NON BANK FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS CREDIT ON POVERTY
EFFECT OF NON BANK FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS CREDIT ON POVERTYEFFECT OF NON BANK FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS CREDIT ON POVERTY
EFFECT OF NON BANK FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS CREDIT ON POVERTYMoses Mutharime Mwito
 
Contribution of Financial Inclusion on the Economic Development of Nigeria 19...
Contribution of Financial Inclusion on the Economic Development of Nigeria 19...Contribution of Financial Inclusion on the Economic Development of Nigeria 19...
Contribution of Financial Inclusion on the Economic Development of Nigeria 19...ijtsrd
 
Contribution of Micro Finance on Poverty Alleviation in Bangladesh
Contribution of Micro Finance on Poverty Alleviation in BangladeshContribution of Micro Finance on Poverty Alleviation in Bangladesh
Contribution of Micro Finance on Poverty Alleviation in BangladeshRoksana Aftab Ruhi
 

Similar to Impact of Village Saving and Loan Associations (VSLAs) in Rubengera Sector – Rwanda (20)

IJSRED-V2I4P18
IJSRED-V2I4P18IJSRED-V2I4P18
IJSRED-V2I4P18
 
140301050136 igidr poor financial inclusion in rural areas of chhattisgarh
140301050136 igidr poor financial inclusion in rural areas of chhattisgarh140301050136 igidr poor financial inclusion in rural areas of chhattisgarh
140301050136 igidr poor financial inclusion in rural areas of chhattisgarh
 
B310614
B310614B310614
B310614
 
An evaluation of microfinance services on poverty alleviation in kisii county...
An evaluation of microfinance services on poverty alleviation in kisii county...An evaluation of microfinance services on poverty alleviation in kisii county...
An evaluation of microfinance services on poverty alleviation in kisii county...
 
D0142635
D0142635D0142635
D0142635
 
Strategy for Financing Family Farming in the West Region of Cameroon
Strategy for Financing Family Farming in the West Region of CameroonStrategy for Financing Family Farming in the West Region of Cameroon
Strategy for Financing Family Farming in the West Region of Cameroon
 
Whitepaper - Can Nanofinance Eradicate Poverty.pdf
Whitepaper - Can Nanofinance Eradicate Poverty.pdfWhitepaper - Can Nanofinance Eradicate Poverty.pdf
Whitepaper - Can Nanofinance Eradicate Poverty.pdf
 
Micro finance bank in Nigeria
Micro finance bank in NigeriaMicro finance bank in Nigeria
Micro finance bank in Nigeria
 
Financial Inclusion and Rural Development
Financial Inclusion and Rural DevelopmentFinancial Inclusion and Rural Development
Financial Inclusion and Rural Development
 
Determinants of Micro Finance Accessibility among Tomato Farmers in Kokona Lo...
Determinants of Micro Finance Accessibility among Tomato Farmers in Kokona Lo...Determinants of Micro Finance Accessibility among Tomato Farmers in Kokona Lo...
Determinants of Micro Finance Accessibility among Tomato Farmers in Kokona Lo...
 
Determinants of Micro Finance Accessibility among Tomato Farmers in Kokona Lo...
Determinants of Micro Finance Accessibility among Tomato Farmers in Kokona Lo...Determinants of Micro Finance Accessibility among Tomato Farmers in Kokona Lo...
Determinants of Micro Finance Accessibility among Tomato Farmers in Kokona Lo...
 
Effect of operational guidelines of bank of agriculture on loan disbursment a...
Effect of operational guidelines of bank of agriculture on loan disbursment a...Effect of operational guidelines of bank of agriculture on loan disbursment a...
Effect of operational guidelines of bank of agriculture on loan disbursment a...
 
AGRICULTURAL COOPERATIVE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT IN ANAMBRA STATE.pdf
AGRICULTURAL COOPERATIVE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT IN ANAMBRA STATE.pdfAGRICULTURAL COOPERATIVE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT IN ANAMBRA STATE.pdf
AGRICULTURAL COOPERATIVE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT IN ANAMBRA STATE.pdf
 
11.the role of micro credit and micro finance institutions (mf is)
11.the role of micro credit and micro finance institutions (mf is)11.the role of micro credit and micro finance institutions (mf is)
11.the role of micro credit and micro finance institutions (mf is)
 
Microfinance banks and entrepreneurship development in nigeria
Microfinance banks and entrepreneurship development in nigeriaMicrofinance banks and entrepreneurship development in nigeria
Microfinance banks and entrepreneurship development in nigeria
 
Financial Literacy amongst Small Scale Farmers in Zambia
Financial Literacy amongst Small Scale Farmers in ZambiaFinancial Literacy amongst Small Scale Farmers in Zambia
Financial Literacy amongst Small Scale Farmers in Zambia
 
TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES IN MICROFINANCE BANKS AND ECONOMIC GROWTH IN NIGERIA
TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES IN MICROFINANCE BANKS AND ECONOMIC GROWTH IN NIGERIATECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES IN MICROFINANCE BANKS AND ECONOMIC GROWTH IN NIGERIA
TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES IN MICROFINANCE BANKS AND ECONOMIC GROWTH IN NIGERIA
 
EFFECT OF NON BANK FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS CREDIT ON POVERTY
EFFECT OF NON BANK FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS CREDIT ON POVERTYEFFECT OF NON BANK FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS CREDIT ON POVERTY
EFFECT OF NON BANK FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS CREDIT ON POVERTY
 
Contribution of Financial Inclusion on the Economic Development of Nigeria 19...
Contribution of Financial Inclusion on the Economic Development of Nigeria 19...Contribution of Financial Inclusion on the Economic Development of Nigeria 19...
Contribution of Financial Inclusion on the Economic Development of Nigeria 19...
 
Contribution of Micro Finance on Poverty Alleviation in Bangladesh
Contribution of Micro Finance on Poverty Alleviation in BangladeshContribution of Micro Finance on Poverty Alleviation in Bangladesh
Contribution of Micro Finance on Poverty Alleviation in Bangladesh
 

More from Premier Publishers

Evaluation of Agro-morphological Performances of Hybrid Varieties of Chili Pe...
Evaluation of Agro-morphological Performances of Hybrid Varieties of Chili Pe...Evaluation of Agro-morphological Performances of Hybrid Varieties of Chili Pe...
Evaluation of Agro-morphological Performances of Hybrid Varieties of Chili Pe...Premier Publishers
 
An Empirical Approach for the Variation in Capital Market Price Changes
An Empirical Approach for the Variation in Capital Market Price Changes An Empirical Approach for the Variation in Capital Market Price Changes
An Empirical Approach for the Variation in Capital Market Price Changes Premier Publishers
 
Influence of Nitrogen and Spacing on Growth and Yield of Chia (Salvia hispani...
Influence of Nitrogen and Spacing on Growth and Yield of Chia (Salvia hispani...Influence of Nitrogen and Spacing on Growth and Yield of Chia (Salvia hispani...
Influence of Nitrogen and Spacing on Growth and Yield of Chia (Salvia hispani...Premier Publishers
 
Enhancing Social Capital During the Pandemic: A Case of the Rural Women in Bu...
Enhancing Social Capital During the Pandemic: A Case of the Rural Women in Bu...Enhancing Social Capital During the Pandemic: A Case of the Rural Women in Bu...
Enhancing Social Capital During the Pandemic: A Case of the Rural Women in Bu...Premier Publishers
 
Impact of Provision of Litigation Supports through Forensic Investigations on...
Impact of Provision of Litigation Supports through Forensic Investigations on...Impact of Provision of Litigation Supports through Forensic Investigations on...
Impact of Provision of Litigation Supports through Forensic Investigations on...Premier Publishers
 
Improving the Efficiency of Ratio Estimators by Calibration Weightings
Improving the Efficiency of Ratio Estimators by Calibration WeightingsImproving the Efficiency of Ratio Estimators by Calibration Weightings
Improving the Efficiency of Ratio Estimators by Calibration WeightingsPremier Publishers
 
Urban Liveability in the Context of Sustainable Development: A Perspective fr...
Urban Liveability in the Context of Sustainable Development: A Perspective fr...Urban Liveability in the Context of Sustainable Development: A Perspective fr...
Urban Liveability in the Context of Sustainable Development: A Perspective fr...Premier Publishers
 
Transcript Level of Genes Involved in “Rebaudioside A” Biosynthesis Pathway u...
Transcript Level of Genes Involved in “Rebaudioside A” Biosynthesis Pathway u...Transcript Level of Genes Involved in “Rebaudioside A” Biosynthesis Pathway u...
Transcript Level of Genes Involved in “Rebaudioside A” Biosynthesis Pathway u...Premier Publishers
 
Multivariate Analysis of Tea (Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze) Clones on Mor...
Multivariate Analysis of Tea (Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze) Clones on Mor...Multivariate Analysis of Tea (Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze) Clones on Mor...
Multivariate Analysis of Tea (Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze) Clones on Mor...Premier Publishers
 
Causes, Consequences and Remedies of Juvenile Delinquency in the Context of S...
Causes, Consequences and Remedies of Juvenile Delinquency in the Context of S...Causes, Consequences and Remedies of Juvenile Delinquency in the Context of S...
Causes, Consequences and Remedies of Juvenile Delinquency in the Context of S...Premier Publishers
 
The Knowledge of and Attitude to and Beliefs about Causes and Treatments of M...
The Knowledge of and Attitude to and Beliefs about Causes and Treatments of M...The Knowledge of and Attitude to and Beliefs about Causes and Treatments of M...
The Knowledge of and Attitude to and Beliefs about Causes and Treatments of M...Premier Publishers
 
Effect of Phosphorus and Zinc on the Growth, Nodulation and Yield of Soybean ...
Effect of Phosphorus and Zinc on the Growth, Nodulation and Yield of Soybean ...Effect of Phosphorus and Zinc on the Growth, Nodulation and Yield of Soybean ...
Effect of Phosphorus and Zinc on the Growth, Nodulation and Yield of Soybean ...Premier Publishers
 
Influence of Harvest Stage on Yield and Yield Components of Orange Fleshed Sw...
Influence of Harvest Stage on Yield and Yield Components of Orange Fleshed Sw...Influence of Harvest Stage on Yield and Yield Components of Orange Fleshed Sw...
Influence of Harvest Stage on Yield and Yield Components of Orange Fleshed Sw...Premier Publishers
 
Performance evaluation of upland rice (Oryza sativa L.) and variability study...
Performance evaluation of upland rice (Oryza sativa L.) and variability study...Performance evaluation of upland rice (Oryza sativa L.) and variability study...
Performance evaluation of upland rice (Oryza sativa L.) and variability study...Premier Publishers
 
Response of Hot Pepper (Capsicum Annuum L.) to Deficit Irrigation in Bennatse...
Response of Hot Pepper (Capsicum Annuum L.) to Deficit Irrigation in Bennatse...Response of Hot Pepper (Capsicum Annuum L.) to Deficit Irrigation in Bennatse...
Response of Hot Pepper (Capsicum Annuum L.) to Deficit Irrigation in Bennatse...Premier Publishers
 
Harnessing the Power of Agricultural Waste: A Study of Sabo Market, Ikorodu, ...
Harnessing the Power of Agricultural Waste: A Study of Sabo Market, Ikorodu, ...Harnessing the Power of Agricultural Waste: A Study of Sabo Market, Ikorodu, ...
Harnessing the Power of Agricultural Waste: A Study of Sabo Market, Ikorodu, ...Premier Publishers
 
Influence of Conferences and Job Rotation on Job Productivity of Library Staf...
Influence of Conferences and Job Rotation on Job Productivity of Library Staf...Influence of Conferences and Job Rotation on Job Productivity of Library Staf...
Influence of Conferences and Job Rotation on Job Productivity of Library Staf...Premier Publishers
 
Scanning Electron Microscopic Structure and Composition of Urinary Calculi of...
Scanning Electron Microscopic Structure and Composition of Urinary Calculi of...Scanning Electron Microscopic Structure and Composition of Urinary Calculi of...
Scanning Electron Microscopic Structure and Composition of Urinary Calculi of...Premier Publishers
 
Gentrification and its Effects on Minority Communities – A Comparative Case S...
Gentrification and its Effects on Minority Communities – A Comparative Case S...Gentrification and its Effects on Minority Communities – A Comparative Case S...
Gentrification and its Effects on Minority Communities – A Comparative Case S...Premier Publishers
 
Oil and Fatty Acid Composition Analysis of Ethiopian Mustard (Brasicacarinata...
Oil and Fatty Acid Composition Analysis of Ethiopian Mustard (Brasicacarinata...Oil and Fatty Acid Composition Analysis of Ethiopian Mustard (Brasicacarinata...
Oil and Fatty Acid Composition Analysis of Ethiopian Mustard (Brasicacarinata...Premier Publishers
 

More from Premier Publishers (20)

Evaluation of Agro-morphological Performances of Hybrid Varieties of Chili Pe...
Evaluation of Agro-morphological Performances of Hybrid Varieties of Chili Pe...Evaluation of Agro-morphological Performances of Hybrid Varieties of Chili Pe...
Evaluation of Agro-morphological Performances of Hybrid Varieties of Chili Pe...
 
An Empirical Approach for the Variation in Capital Market Price Changes
An Empirical Approach for the Variation in Capital Market Price Changes An Empirical Approach for the Variation in Capital Market Price Changes
An Empirical Approach for the Variation in Capital Market Price Changes
 
Influence of Nitrogen and Spacing on Growth and Yield of Chia (Salvia hispani...
Influence of Nitrogen and Spacing on Growth and Yield of Chia (Salvia hispani...Influence of Nitrogen and Spacing on Growth and Yield of Chia (Salvia hispani...
Influence of Nitrogen and Spacing on Growth and Yield of Chia (Salvia hispani...
 
Enhancing Social Capital During the Pandemic: A Case of the Rural Women in Bu...
Enhancing Social Capital During the Pandemic: A Case of the Rural Women in Bu...Enhancing Social Capital During the Pandemic: A Case of the Rural Women in Bu...
Enhancing Social Capital During the Pandemic: A Case of the Rural Women in Bu...
 
Impact of Provision of Litigation Supports through Forensic Investigations on...
Impact of Provision of Litigation Supports through Forensic Investigations on...Impact of Provision of Litigation Supports through Forensic Investigations on...
Impact of Provision of Litigation Supports through Forensic Investigations on...
 
Improving the Efficiency of Ratio Estimators by Calibration Weightings
Improving the Efficiency of Ratio Estimators by Calibration WeightingsImproving the Efficiency of Ratio Estimators by Calibration Weightings
Improving the Efficiency of Ratio Estimators by Calibration Weightings
 
Urban Liveability in the Context of Sustainable Development: A Perspective fr...
Urban Liveability in the Context of Sustainable Development: A Perspective fr...Urban Liveability in the Context of Sustainable Development: A Perspective fr...
Urban Liveability in the Context of Sustainable Development: A Perspective fr...
 
Transcript Level of Genes Involved in “Rebaudioside A” Biosynthesis Pathway u...
Transcript Level of Genes Involved in “Rebaudioside A” Biosynthesis Pathway u...Transcript Level of Genes Involved in “Rebaudioside A” Biosynthesis Pathway u...
Transcript Level of Genes Involved in “Rebaudioside A” Biosynthesis Pathway u...
 
Multivariate Analysis of Tea (Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze) Clones on Mor...
Multivariate Analysis of Tea (Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze) Clones on Mor...Multivariate Analysis of Tea (Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze) Clones on Mor...
Multivariate Analysis of Tea (Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze) Clones on Mor...
 
Causes, Consequences and Remedies of Juvenile Delinquency in the Context of S...
Causes, Consequences and Remedies of Juvenile Delinquency in the Context of S...Causes, Consequences and Remedies of Juvenile Delinquency in the Context of S...
Causes, Consequences and Remedies of Juvenile Delinquency in the Context of S...
 
The Knowledge of and Attitude to and Beliefs about Causes and Treatments of M...
The Knowledge of and Attitude to and Beliefs about Causes and Treatments of M...The Knowledge of and Attitude to and Beliefs about Causes and Treatments of M...
The Knowledge of and Attitude to and Beliefs about Causes and Treatments of M...
 
Effect of Phosphorus and Zinc on the Growth, Nodulation and Yield of Soybean ...
Effect of Phosphorus and Zinc on the Growth, Nodulation and Yield of Soybean ...Effect of Phosphorus and Zinc on the Growth, Nodulation and Yield of Soybean ...
Effect of Phosphorus and Zinc on the Growth, Nodulation and Yield of Soybean ...
 
Influence of Harvest Stage on Yield and Yield Components of Orange Fleshed Sw...
Influence of Harvest Stage on Yield and Yield Components of Orange Fleshed Sw...Influence of Harvest Stage on Yield and Yield Components of Orange Fleshed Sw...
Influence of Harvest Stage on Yield and Yield Components of Orange Fleshed Sw...
 
Performance evaluation of upland rice (Oryza sativa L.) and variability study...
Performance evaluation of upland rice (Oryza sativa L.) and variability study...Performance evaluation of upland rice (Oryza sativa L.) and variability study...
Performance evaluation of upland rice (Oryza sativa L.) and variability study...
 
Response of Hot Pepper (Capsicum Annuum L.) to Deficit Irrigation in Bennatse...
Response of Hot Pepper (Capsicum Annuum L.) to Deficit Irrigation in Bennatse...Response of Hot Pepper (Capsicum Annuum L.) to Deficit Irrigation in Bennatse...
Response of Hot Pepper (Capsicum Annuum L.) to Deficit Irrigation in Bennatse...
 
Harnessing the Power of Agricultural Waste: A Study of Sabo Market, Ikorodu, ...
Harnessing the Power of Agricultural Waste: A Study of Sabo Market, Ikorodu, ...Harnessing the Power of Agricultural Waste: A Study of Sabo Market, Ikorodu, ...
Harnessing the Power of Agricultural Waste: A Study of Sabo Market, Ikorodu, ...
 
Influence of Conferences and Job Rotation on Job Productivity of Library Staf...
Influence of Conferences and Job Rotation on Job Productivity of Library Staf...Influence of Conferences and Job Rotation on Job Productivity of Library Staf...
Influence of Conferences and Job Rotation on Job Productivity of Library Staf...
 
Scanning Electron Microscopic Structure and Composition of Urinary Calculi of...
Scanning Electron Microscopic Structure and Composition of Urinary Calculi of...Scanning Electron Microscopic Structure and Composition of Urinary Calculi of...
Scanning Electron Microscopic Structure and Composition of Urinary Calculi of...
 
Gentrification and its Effects on Minority Communities – A Comparative Case S...
Gentrification and its Effects on Minority Communities – A Comparative Case S...Gentrification and its Effects on Minority Communities – A Comparative Case S...
Gentrification and its Effects on Minority Communities – A Comparative Case S...
 
Oil and Fatty Acid Composition Analysis of Ethiopian Mustard (Brasicacarinata...
Oil and Fatty Acid Composition Analysis of Ethiopian Mustard (Brasicacarinata...Oil and Fatty Acid Composition Analysis of Ethiopian Mustard (Brasicacarinata...
Oil and Fatty Acid Composition Analysis of Ethiopian Mustard (Brasicacarinata...
 

Recently uploaded

“Oh GOSH! Reflecting on Hackteria's Collaborative Practices in a Global Do-It...
“Oh GOSH! Reflecting on Hackteria's Collaborative Practices in a Global Do-It...“Oh GOSH! Reflecting on Hackteria's Collaborative Practices in a Global Do-It...
“Oh GOSH! Reflecting on Hackteria's Collaborative Practices in a Global Do-It...Marc Dusseiller Dusjagr
 
Final demo Grade 9 for demo Plan dessert.pptx
Final demo Grade 9 for demo Plan dessert.pptxFinal demo Grade 9 for demo Plan dessert.pptx
Final demo Grade 9 for demo Plan dessert.pptxAvyJaneVismanos
 
18-04-UA_REPORT_MEDIALITERAСY_INDEX-DM_23-1-final-eng.pdf
18-04-UA_REPORT_MEDIALITERAСY_INDEX-DM_23-1-final-eng.pdf18-04-UA_REPORT_MEDIALITERAСY_INDEX-DM_23-1-final-eng.pdf
18-04-UA_REPORT_MEDIALITERAСY_INDEX-DM_23-1-final-eng.pdfssuser54595a
 
call girls in Kamla Market (DELHI) 🔝 >༒9953330565🔝 genuine Escort Service 🔝✔️✔️
call girls in Kamla Market (DELHI) 🔝 >༒9953330565🔝 genuine Escort Service 🔝✔️✔️call girls in Kamla Market (DELHI) 🔝 >༒9953330565🔝 genuine Escort Service 🔝✔️✔️
call girls in Kamla Market (DELHI) 🔝 >༒9953330565🔝 genuine Escort Service 🔝✔️✔️9953056974 Low Rate Call Girls In Saket, Delhi NCR
 
CARE OF CHILD IN INCUBATOR..........pptx
CARE OF CHILD IN INCUBATOR..........pptxCARE OF CHILD IN INCUBATOR..........pptx
CARE OF CHILD IN INCUBATOR..........pptxGaneshChakor2
 
History Class XII Ch. 3 Kinship, Caste and Class (1).pptx
History Class XII Ch. 3 Kinship, Caste and Class (1).pptxHistory Class XII Ch. 3 Kinship, Caste and Class (1).pptx
History Class XII Ch. 3 Kinship, Caste and Class (1).pptxsocialsciencegdgrohi
 
internship ppt on smartinternz platform as salesforce developer
internship ppt on smartinternz platform as salesforce developerinternship ppt on smartinternz platform as salesforce developer
internship ppt on smartinternz platform as salesforce developerunnathinaik
 
Introduction to ArtificiaI Intelligence in Higher Education
Introduction to ArtificiaI Intelligence in Higher EducationIntroduction to ArtificiaI Intelligence in Higher Education
Introduction to ArtificiaI Intelligence in Higher Educationpboyjonauth
 
Computed Fields and api Depends in the Odoo 17
Computed Fields and api Depends in the Odoo 17Computed Fields and api Depends in the Odoo 17
Computed Fields and api Depends in the Odoo 17Celine George
 
Pharmacognosy Flower 3. Compositae 2023.pdf
Pharmacognosy Flower 3. Compositae 2023.pdfPharmacognosy Flower 3. Compositae 2023.pdf
Pharmacognosy Flower 3. Compositae 2023.pdfMahmoud M. Sallam
 
Crayon Activity Handout For the Crayon A
Crayon Activity Handout For the Crayon ACrayon Activity Handout For the Crayon A
Crayon Activity Handout For the Crayon AUnboundStockton
 
Class 11 Legal Studies Ch-1 Concept of State .pdf
Class 11 Legal Studies Ch-1 Concept of State .pdfClass 11 Legal Studies Ch-1 Concept of State .pdf
Class 11 Legal Studies Ch-1 Concept of State .pdfakmcokerachita
 
BASLIQ CURRENT LOOKBOOK LOOKBOOK(1) (1).pdf
BASLIQ CURRENT LOOKBOOK  LOOKBOOK(1) (1).pdfBASLIQ CURRENT LOOKBOOK  LOOKBOOK(1) (1).pdf
BASLIQ CURRENT LOOKBOOK LOOKBOOK(1) (1).pdfSoniaTolstoy
 
Introduction to AI in Higher Education_draft.pptx
Introduction to AI in Higher Education_draft.pptxIntroduction to AI in Higher Education_draft.pptx
Introduction to AI in Higher Education_draft.pptxpboyjonauth
 
POINT- BIOCHEMISTRY SEM 2 ENZYMES UNIT 5.pptx
POINT- BIOCHEMISTRY SEM 2 ENZYMES UNIT 5.pptxPOINT- BIOCHEMISTRY SEM 2 ENZYMES UNIT 5.pptx
POINT- BIOCHEMISTRY SEM 2 ENZYMES UNIT 5.pptxSayali Powar
 
ENGLISH5 QUARTER4 MODULE1 WEEK1-3 How Visual and Multimedia Elements.pptx
ENGLISH5 QUARTER4 MODULE1 WEEK1-3 How Visual and Multimedia Elements.pptxENGLISH5 QUARTER4 MODULE1 WEEK1-3 How Visual and Multimedia Elements.pptx
ENGLISH5 QUARTER4 MODULE1 WEEK1-3 How Visual and Multimedia Elements.pptxAnaBeatriceAblay2
 
Solving Puzzles Benefits Everyone (English).pptx
Solving Puzzles Benefits Everyone (English).pptxSolving Puzzles Benefits Everyone (English).pptx
Solving Puzzles Benefits Everyone (English).pptxOH TEIK BIN
 
Incoming and Outgoing Shipments in 1 STEP Using Odoo 17
Incoming and Outgoing Shipments in 1 STEP Using Odoo 17Incoming and Outgoing Shipments in 1 STEP Using Odoo 17
Incoming and Outgoing Shipments in 1 STEP Using Odoo 17Celine George
 

Recently uploaded (20)

Staff of Color (SOC) Retention Efforts DDSD
Staff of Color (SOC) Retention Efforts DDSDStaff of Color (SOC) Retention Efforts DDSD
Staff of Color (SOC) Retention Efforts DDSD
 
“Oh GOSH! Reflecting on Hackteria's Collaborative Practices in a Global Do-It...
“Oh GOSH! Reflecting on Hackteria's Collaborative Practices in a Global Do-It...“Oh GOSH! Reflecting on Hackteria's Collaborative Practices in a Global Do-It...
“Oh GOSH! Reflecting on Hackteria's Collaborative Practices in a Global Do-It...
 
Final demo Grade 9 for demo Plan dessert.pptx
Final demo Grade 9 for demo Plan dessert.pptxFinal demo Grade 9 for demo Plan dessert.pptx
Final demo Grade 9 for demo Plan dessert.pptx
 
18-04-UA_REPORT_MEDIALITERAСY_INDEX-DM_23-1-final-eng.pdf
18-04-UA_REPORT_MEDIALITERAСY_INDEX-DM_23-1-final-eng.pdf18-04-UA_REPORT_MEDIALITERAСY_INDEX-DM_23-1-final-eng.pdf
18-04-UA_REPORT_MEDIALITERAСY_INDEX-DM_23-1-final-eng.pdf
 
call girls in Kamla Market (DELHI) 🔝 >༒9953330565🔝 genuine Escort Service 🔝✔️✔️
call girls in Kamla Market (DELHI) 🔝 >༒9953330565🔝 genuine Escort Service 🔝✔️✔️call girls in Kamla Market (DELHI) 🔝 >༒9953330565🔝 genuine Escort Service 🔝✔️✔️
call girls in Kamla Market (DELHI) 🔝 >༒9953330565🔝 genuine Escort Service 🔝✔️✔️
 
CARE OF CHILD IN INCUBATOR..........pptx
CARE OF CHILD IN INCUBATOR..........pptxCARE OF CHILD IN INCUBATOR..........pptx
CARE OF CHILD IN INCUBATOR..........pptx
 
History Class XII Ch. 3 Kinship, Caste and Class (1).pptx
History Class XII Ch. 3 Kinship, Caste and Class (1).pptxHistory Class XII Ch. 3 Kinship, Caste and Class (1).pptx
History Class XII Ch. 3 Kinship, Caste and Class (1).pptx
 
internship ppt on smartinternz platform as salesforce developer
internship ppt on smartinternz platform as salesforce developerinternship ppt on smartinternz platform as salesforce developer
internship ppt on smartinternz platform as salesforce developer
 
TataKelola dan KamSiber Kecerdasan Buatan v022.pdf
TataKelola dan KamSiber Kecerdasan Buatan v022.pdfTataKelola dan KamSiber Kecerdasan Buatan v022.pdf
TataKelola dan KamSiber Kecerdasan Buatan v022.pdf
 
Introduction to ArtificiaI Intelligence in Higher Education
Introduction to ArtificiaI Intelligence in Higher EducationIntroduction to ArtificiaI Intelligence in Higher Education
Introduction to ArtificiaI Intelligence in Higher Education
 
Computed Fields and api Depends in the Odoo 17
Computed Fields and api Depends in the Odoo 17Computed Fields and api Depends in the Odoo 17
Computed Fields and api Depends in the Odoo 17
 
Pharmacognosy Flower 3. Compositae 2023.pdf
Pharmacognosy Flower 3. Compositae 2023.pdfPharmacognosy Flower 3. Compositae 2023.pdf
Pharmacognosy Flower 3. Compositae 2023.pdf
 
Crayon Activity Handout For the Crayon A
Crayon Activity Handout For the Crayon ACrayon Activity Handout For the Crayon A
Crayon Activity Handout For the Crayon A
 
Class 11 Legal Studies Ch-1 Concept of State .pdf
Class 11 Legal Studies Ch-1 Concept of State .pdfClass 11 Legal Studies Ch-1 Concept of State .pdf
Class 11 Legal Studies Ch-1 Concept of State .pdf
 
BASLIQ CURRENT LOOKBOOK LOOKBOOK(1) (1).pdf
BASLIQ CURRENT LOOKBOOK  LOOKBOOK(1) (1).pdfBASLIQ CURRENT LOOKBOOK  LOOKBOOK(1) (1).pdf
BASLIQ CURRENT LOOKBOOK LOOKBOOK(1) (1).pdf
 
Introduction to AI in Higher Education_draft.pptx
Introduction to AI in Higher Education_draft.pptxIntroduction to AI in Higher Education_draft.pptx
Introduction to AI in Higher Education_draft.pptx
 
POINT- BIOCHEMISTRY SEM 2 ENZYMES UNIT 5.pptx
POINT- BIOCHEMISTRY SEM 2 ENZYMES UNIT 5.pptxPOINT- BIOCHEMISTRY SEM 2 ENZYMES UNIT 5.pptx
POINT- BIOCHEMISTRY SEM 2 ENZYMES UNIT 5.pptx
 
ENGLISH5 QUARTER4 MODULE1 WEEK1-3 How Visual and Multimedia Elements.pptx
ENGLISH5 QUARTER4 MODULE1 WEEK1-3 How Visual and Multimedia Elements.pptxENGLISH5 QUARTER4 MODULE1 WEEK1-3 How Visual and Multimedia Elements.pptx
ENGLISH5 QUARTER4 MODULE1 WEEK1-3 How Visual and Multimedia Elements.pptx
 
Solving Puzzles Benefits Everyone (English).pptx
Solving Puzzles Benefits Everyone (English).pptxSolving Puzzles Benefits Everyone (English).pptx
Solving Puzzles Benefits Everyone (English).pptx
 
Incoming and Outgoing Shipments in 1 STEP Using Odoo 17
Incoming and Outgoing Shipments in 1 STEP Using Odoo 17Incoming and Outgoing Shipments in 1 STEP Using Odoo 17
Incoming and Outgoing Shipments in 1 STEP Using Odoo 17
 

Impact of Village Saving and Loan Associations (VSLAs) in Rubengera Sector – Rwanda

  • 1. Impact of Village Saving and Loan Associations (VSLAs) in Rubengera Sector – Rwanda JAERD Impact of Village Saving and Loan Associations (VSLAs) in Rubengera Sector – Rwanda Ir. Mubashankwaya Isaac1*, Manyange Nyanchiri Remmy2 1* Option of Rural Development - Department of Management and Development Studies - Faculty of Social sciences, Management and Development Studies - University of Technology and Arts of Byumba, Rwanda. 2 Option of Entrepreneurship Development - Department of Management and Development Studies - Faculty of Social sciences, Management and Development Studies – University of Technology and Arts of Byumba (UTAB), Rwanda. The study aimed at studying the impact of VSLAs on sustainable development of rural population of Rubengera Sector in Karongi District. A sample of 92 respondents were selected from the study population of 2400 members of VSLAs in the study area using Alain Bouchard formula. The respondents were selected with the help of simple random sampling techniques. Data collection instruments included observation, focus group discussion, questionnaire and documentation. After the collection of data, it was processed through editing, coding and tabulation; then analyzed with comparative and statistical methods with the help of SPSS. After data analysis and interpretation of the results, the researcher found out that VSLAs helped in the financial inclusion of different categories. According to the profile of the respondents, the researcher found that VSLAs included women, men and youth, people with different academic levels and professions. In conclusion, all 92 sampled, 100% of the respondents confirmed that since the adoption of VSLAs, there have been positive changes that have characterized the socioeconomic development of the rural population in the study area. The sampled members of VSLAs confirmed that after joining VSLAs, livelihood status have improved such as improvement in school enrolment, better health status, better housing and improvement in income level. Furthermore, findings revealed that after joining VSLAs, most of the members have shifted to upper categories of Ubudehe program. Key words: Impact, VSLA, Rubengera Sector, Rwanda. INTRODUCTION The vast majority of the world’s poor live in rural areas of developing countries with very limited infrastructure. Rural economies are characterized by long time spans between input and output of the agricultural production, uncertainty and weather dependency. This makes the ability to smooth consumption, to access credit and to employ risk coping strategies very important for household living under such circumstances (Conning and Udry, 2007). Seventy percent of the world’s poorest live in rural areas in developing countries with poor access to finance. Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs) have become an increasingly widespread intervention aimed at improving local financial intermediation (Christopher, 2013). Although during the last decades’ microfinance institutions have provided millions of people access to financial services, but provision of access in rural areas remains a major challenge. *Corresponding author: Ir. Mubashankwaya Isaac. Option of Rural Development - Department of Management and Development Studies - Faculty of Social sciences, Management and Development Studies - University of Technology and Arts of Byumba (UTAB) – P.O. Box 25 Byumba – Gicumbi – Rwanda. E-mail: isaacdabraham@yahoo.fr. Tel.: +250788442842. Journal of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development Vol. 3(1), pp. 176-183, June, 2017. © www.premierpublishers.org. ISSN: 2167-0477 Review Article
  • 2. Impact of Village Saving and Loan Associations (VSLAs) in Rubengera Sector – Rwanda Isaac and Remmy 177 It is costly for microfinance organizations to reach the rural poor, and as a consequence the great majority of them lack any access to formal financial services. Traditional community methods of saving, such as the Rotating Savings and credit Associations called ROSCAs can provide an opportunity to save, but they do not allow savers to earn interest on their deposits as a formal account would. In addition, ROSCAs do not provide a means for borrowing at will because each member makes a regular deposit to the common fund, only one lottery- selected member is able to keep the proceeds from each meeting. Nevertheless, the history of rural financial intermediation is not encouraging and the recent explosive growth in microfinance globally has concentrated in urban and semi-urban areas (Allen and Panetta 2010). Growing evidence highlights that for poor households, savings is a much higher priority than borrowing, as savings builds assets and can help to address risks as well as planned lifecycle events in traditional places where the poor save money are often at risk of theft or temptation (Collins et al, 2009). To speed up the financial inclusion of rural people, VSLAs have been introduced by CARE International in all the countries members of East African Community including: Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and Rwanda. The same author argues that a policy on financial inclusion should focus on ensuring the poor have convenient and affordable access to the financial products that they need to manage their households and businesses. These products may come from either formal or informal providers (Chidiac, 2011). According to Jan Maes (2007), Rwanda is a small land- locked country in Central Africa, with a very high population density of 328 inhabitants per square kilometer. While microcredit organizations in Rwanda barely reach the rural poor, the Banques Populaires have a strong presence in rural areas, but focused until recently for the most part on less poor people (such as salaried people, traders, and cash crop farmers). The Rwandan population is expected to double to around 16 million by 2020. Given that the major aspiration of Vision 2020 is to transform Rwanda’s economy into a middle income country (per capita income of about 900 USD per year, from 220 USD in 2000), this will require an annual growth rate of at least 7%. This will not be achieved unless we transform from a subsistence agriculture economy to a knowledge -based society, with high levels of savings and private investment, thereby reducing the country’s dependence on external aid. To achieve a more sustainable economic growth and development, Rwanda needs a deepened, broadened and developed financial system, well regulated and competitive, an inclusive and financially literate population to accelerate growth (MINECOFIN, 2013). By having access to savings services and small loans, members can smooth irregular income patterns and meet basic household consumption needs rather than taking on significant debt they may be unable to repay. And when they do borrow from the VSLA, loan sizes are generally small and manageable. According to Allen (2002), the approach of VSLAs is characterized by a focus on savings, asset building, and the provision of credit proportionate to the needs and repayment capacities of the borrowers. Groups are of low-cost, simple to manage and can be seen as a first step for people to reach a more formal and wider array of financial services. VSLAs can dramatically raise the self-respect of individual members and help to build up social capital within communities, particularly among women. According to Mkoma et al (2009), VSLAs are most successful in economically dynamic urban areas, where investment opportunities abound; the borrowing requirements of small-scale enterprises are high; income streams are regular and diverse and the cost of reaching clients is low. But 30 years since the start of the microfinance revolution, people who live in many rural areas and urban slums, and in particular those who are very poor, have a difficult time gaining access to useful microfinance products. Surprisingly, this is often the case in countries with a well-developed microfinance sector, a fact that is becoming increasingly evident as the industry matures. VSLAs, based in the community, are complementary to Microfinance Institution (MFIs), tending to serve the very poor whose income is irregular and less reliable and who may not be full-time business people. Their principal need is for services that help them manage their household cash-flow and provide useful lump sums for life-cycle events which may or may not include income generation. These people are more likely to be economically vulnerable and, for the most part, they live in rural areas that are served only intermittently by local markets, at the periphery of the national economy (Mkoma et al, 2009). MATERIALS AND METHODS Study area Rubengera sector is one of 13 sectors of Karongi district in Western province of Rwanda. According to NISR (2012), Rubengera sector has 33,005 inhabitants including 15,481 males and 17,524 females and the density of 697 inhabitants /Km2. The main economic activity is agriculture and the main cash crop grown is coffee whereas food crops include cassava, beans, bananas, potatoes, vegetables, and fruits. Apart from agriculture that occupies more than 85% of the population, other economic activities
  • 3. Impact of Village Saving and Loan Associations (VSLAs) in Rubengera Sector – Rwanda J. Agric. Econ. Rural Devel. 178 include: fishing, handcraft, and trade. Rubengera sector has 10 cooperatives including 6 farming cooperatives. Rubengera sector is composed of 5 administrative cells. The relief generally composed hills whereby the estimate terrain elevation above sea level is 2064 m. The sector is located at latitude of -2°7'46.56" and Longitude of 29°21'42.19". Population and sampling size The target population for this study included 2400 members of VSLAs in Rubengera sector. For the purpose of this study, the sample size was determined according to the formula of Alain Bouchard with the size of the random sample of 96 individuals, a margin error of 5% and a precision of 95%. The formula used is given below:          nN nN nc . N = the number of whole population. cn = The sample to be examined n= 96 as the size of the random sample NB: 96 is a number used by A. Bouchard which represent the height of a sample for finished universe. Therefore, the sample size is equal to:          962400 962400 cn .        2496 230400 cn 92cn Therefore, the sample size of this study was equal to 92 respondents and the researcher used simple random sampling technique whereby each member of VSLAs had a chance of being selected for the sample. Data collection The questionnaire was prepared in local language (Kinyarwanda) that is supposed to be known by all the respondents and translated into English. To collect primary data, we used questionnaire composed of open-ended and closed-ended questions and it was administered to all 92 members of VSLAs for the study. For the period of the distribution of questionnaires, the researcher ensured that questions were understood in the same way. This method had advantages for both literate and illiterate respondents to reply well. Statistical analysis The researcher used frequency, percentage, and mean rank distribution to determine the socio-demographic characteristics of the respondents and show the impact of VSLAs on the sustainable development of rural population in Rubengera sector. Statistical package for social studies (SPSS) was used to facilitate the statistical analysis. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS Socio economic characteristics Different variables were examined to obtain information about the socio-demographic characteristics of respondents. The main variables were: gender, age, marital status, education level, and time spent in VSLA. As shown in Table 1, out of 92 sampled respondents, 26.1% were males while 73.9% were females. The philosophy of VSLAs is financial inclusion of marginalized people including women and more efforts have been made by local administration to sensitize women on the benefits of joining VSLAs. Access to a formal savings account has substantial positive impacts on women’s productive investment levels and expenditures, and also makes women less vulnerable to various shocks. There are substantial positive impacts of participation in microfinance programs, specifically in the areas of eradicating poverty, promoting children’s education, improving health outcomes for women and children, and empowering women (Daley-Harris, 2009). Although women are responsible for much of the country’s economic activity, especially in agriculture and informal business, economic opportunities are often markedly different for men and women. Creating opportunities for women can help not only to women empowerment, but also to unlock the full economic potential of their country (Ellis et al. 2007). As depicted in the table above, 7.6% of the respondents were under twenty, 40.2% were between twenty and thirty- five years old, 41.3% were between thirty-six and sixty while 10.9% were above sixty years old. From these statistics, the majority of the respondents were adults while the minority of the respondents where people under twenty years old. However, these statistics show that all the age ranges were represented: youth, active adults and retired people. This implied that those who belonged to active and productive age brackets belong to VSLAs simply because they have materialistic urge, while contrary situation prevailed for those who fall within the aged group who are mainly concerned with food security. The findings indicate that 38% of the respondents were married, 29.3% were widowed, and 7.6% were divorced while 25% were single. From the above results, most of the respondents were married people while the least represented respondents were divorced, this implies that the highest number of respondents are married. However, the sample comprised other categories including widowers or widows and single people. These statistics were due to
  • 4. Impact of Village Saving and Loan Associations (VSLAs) in Rubengera Sector – Rwanda Isaac and Remmy 179 Table 1. Socio-economic characteristics of respondents Gender Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent Valid Male 24 26.1 26.1 26.1 Female 68 73.9 73.9 100.0 Total 92 100.0 100.0 Age group Valid Under 20 years 7 7.6 7.6 7.6 Between 20 and 35 years 37 40.2 40.2 47.8 Between 36 and 60 years 38 41.3 41.3 89.1 Above 60 10 10.9 10.9 100.0 Total 92 100.0 100.0 Marital status Valid Married 35 38.0 38.0 38.0 Widowed 27 29.3 29.3 67.4 Divorced 7 7.6 7.6 75.0 Single 23 25.0 25.0 100.0 Total 92 100.0 100.0 Education level Valid No formal education 7 7.6 7.6 7.6 Primary 56 60.9 60.9 68.5 Ordinary level 9 9.8 9.8 78.3 Secondary ( advanced level) 12 13.0 13.0 91.3 Higher education 8 8.7 8.7 100.0 Total 92 100.0 100.0 Table 2. Main function Valid Farmer 34 37.0 37.0 37.0 Handcraft 13 14.1 14.1 51.1 Trading 12 13.0 13.0 64.1 Employees 8 8.7 8.7 72.8 Others 25 27.2 27.2 100.0 Total 92 100.0 100.0 the fact that marriage increases household’s size and therefore venture in increased production as a way of finding means of solving financial problems, rising income and increasing the possibility of financial access (Seluhinga,2013). From these statistics the researcher found that VSLAs contributes to social inclusion of all people with different marital status. They also include people who are assumed to be vulnerable such as widows. Therefore, VSLAs promote social relationships in Rubengera sector. The findings reveal that 7.6% of the respondents had no formal education, 60.9% had primary level of education, 9.8% had ordinary level, and 13% advanced secondary education level whereas 8.7% had higher education level. According to the above results, the majority of the respondents had primary education level and the minority had no formal education. It implies the highest number of respondents had primary education while the lowest respondents had no formal education. According to Skoufias (1997), household from villages without access to finance such as credit market tend to reduce their children’s schooling when they suffer transitory shocks than households with greater access to financial services. This creates an advantage for the sustainable development of people because all the categories of people are actively involved in finance sector regardless the education qualification. As shown in Table 2, the farmers were represented by 37%, 14.1% were handcrafts, and 13.0% were traders, 8.7% were monthly paid employees while 27.2% had other
  • 5. Impact of Village Saving and Loan Associations (VSLAs) in Rubengera Sector – Rwanda J. Agric. Econ. Rural Devel. 180 Table 3. Changes realized due to VSLAs adoption Development characteristics Frequency Percent Creation of new income generation activities 92 100.0 Improved housing or community settlement Increase of children attending schools 92 92 100.0 100.0 Improved social relationships 92 100.0 Increase of hygiene and sanitation infrastructures 92 100.0 Women empowerment 92 100.0 Improved health conditions 92 100.0 Improved living conditions 92 100.0 Increase of electricity and clean water connections Increase of food security 92 92 100.0 100.0 professions like bricklayers, carpenters, hair dressers, taxmen, and tailors. These findings show that the number of people involved in agricultural activities were reduced due to the presence of VSLAs in the study area and they are now involved in other income generating activities rather than farming activities. This implies that VSLAs contribute to the creation of other income generating activities apart from agriculture in rural areas. Impact of VSLAs on socio economic development of the respondents This part sums up the view of respondents about the socio- economic indicators generated from VSLAs in Rubengera sector. The respondents were given a chance to select the development characteristics among the following choices: creation of new income generating activities, improved human settlement, increase of children attending schools, improved social relationships, increase of hygiene and sanitation infrastructures, women empowerment, improved health status, increase in electricity and clean water connections and increase in food security. In the table 3, all respondents confirmed that there is a remarkable achievement in the socioeconomic development due to the adoption of VSLAs in Rubengera sector. From these results, the researcher found that VSLAs contributed to poverty alleviation in Rubengera sector. Since the adoption of VSLAs in Rubengera sector, there has been creation of new income generation activities. As asserted by Czukas et al. (1998), in much of the rural developing world, credit and credit markets are indeed absent or highly imperfect. Rural households in developing countries face considerable risk in their income generation process, a consequence of engaging in inherently risky rain fed agriculture and casual low-paid wage jobs in the informal sector (Czukas et al, 1998). According to MINALOC (2012), the economy of Rwanda is currently characterized by internal (budget deficit) and external (Balance of Payments) macroeconomic disequilibria, alongside low savings and investment rates and unemployment and underemployment. VSLA program come to support, the rural population of Rubengera Sector to overcome the above challenges through creating new income generating activities. The members of VSLAs could invest loans or share out in new small businesses. The businesses include modern farming such as mushrooms growing, bee keeping, carpentry, hair dressing, retail trading, electronic funds transfer services (Mobile money), bicycle and motorbike transport without forgetting the extension cash crops farming especially coffee growing. In terms of human settlement development, the findings showed that some of the members of VSLAs associations had used loans and share out for improving their houses or shifting from grass thatched houses. According to Besley et al. (1993), the main benefit of VSLAs is to allow members to acquire durable goods faster than they would be able to if saving for it individually. Since VSLAs provide their members with relatively large one-off lump sum money, they may also help to overcome barriers to entry to more lucrative opportunities. The report of Rubengera sector (2013) stated that the school dropout decreased from 7.1% to 1.10% in 2010 for primary and from 8% to 3% for secondary education level in 2013. Jacoby (1994), in similar study, indicated that lack of access to finance reduced the likelihood that poor households send their children to school. Formal microfinance however does not tend to reach the ultra- poor. The ultra-poor often live in the most isolated rural areas, deprived of any infrastructure that would make the provision of formal microfinance operationally feasible or financially attractive. Therefore, financial self-help groups
  • 6. Impact of Village Saving and Loan Associations (VSLAs) in Rubengera Sector – Rwanda Isaac and Remmy 181 Table 4. Distribution of respondents according to Ubudehe category Ubudehe category Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent Valid Category 1 28 30.4 30.4 30.4 Category 2 51 55.4 55.4 85.9 Category 3 Category 4 13 0 14.1 0.0 14.1 0.0 100.0 100.0 Total 92 100.0 100.0 Table 5. Access to clean water and electricity Infrastructure Frequency Percent Electricity 34 36.9% Clean water 86 93.4% which provide basic savings and lending facilities have existed for a long time in many developing countries (Besley et al. 1993). This implies that VSLAs among other factors contributed to the stability of education in Rubengera sector; because with VSLAs the parents increased their ability to pay school materials and school facilitation fees for their children. The results of the study found that VSLAs improved all levels of social relationships in Rubengera sector through interaction between the populations. Therefore, VSLAs has greatly contributed to improvement of social relationship because they have allowed the social inclusion of all categories of people and they have targeted more vulnerable and marginalized people such as widows, people with disabilities, women, orphans, and the poorest. According to the report from Rubengera sector the households living in conflicts decreased from 121 in 2010 to 45 households in 2013. As mentioned in the report, this decrease was due to different factors including: improvement of women status, umugoroba w’ababyeyi program, and community policing (Rubengera sector, 2013). Development involves changes to socio-economic structures including ownership, the organization of production, technology, the institutional structure and laws (Cambridge, 1995). Khandker (2005) find that microfinance programs help the poor through consumption smoothing and asset building and have additional positive effects on human capital formation. In addition, there are significant externalities on the village level, with microfinance raising the standards of living of non-participants in program villages and benefiting especially the ultra-poor. The main merit of microfinance is that it allows existing self-employment activities (small businesses) to expand and invest in durable goods. In line with this, there seems to be a heterogeneous impact on consumption: Households with a pre-existing business activity decrease overall consumption and non-durable consumption especially (to allow additional business investments to be made), while households without an existing business increase their non-durable consumption. In order to assess how the living conditions of the people of Rubengera sector improved due to the adoption of VSLAs, the researcher carried out a study on ubudehe categories of the respondents after joining VSLAs. As showed in the table 4, before and after joining VSLAs, the researcher found that ubudehe categories of the respondents changed positively after joining VSLAs program. The majority of the respondents changed from category one to category two and others from category two to category three. This implies that VSLAs contributed to the socio economic development of the rural population of Rubengera sector, because the majority of VSLAs members had their living conditions improved. Also, the study found that VSLAs contributed to increase access to clean water and electricity connections in Rubengera sector. Some of the respondents confirmed that they had used their share out or loans from VSLAs to pay water or electricity connections. This was confirmed in the table 5 where 36.9% of respondents have access to electricity and 93.4% have access to clean water. Banerjee and Morella (2011) argued that many diseases were the leading cause of infant mortality and malnutrition. Therefore, infrastructural development, entailing improved transport links, energy and water supplies and ICT networks; is the priority for Rwanda in order to ensure the sustainable development. Rwanda intends reaching 100% of access to clean water and 70% of access to electricity by 2017 (MINALOC, 2013). According to EWSA (2014), the strategic objectives include: Electricity grid connections to increase from 200,000 in 2011 to a total of 1,200,000 by 2017, which will be equivalent to 70% of access; to generate 1,000 MW from both the indigenous energy resources and from shared energy resources with neighboring countries; electrify 100% of schools, 100% of health facilities and 100% of sector offices by 2017, either through connection to the grid or through reliable off-grid
  • 7. Impact of Village Saving and Loan Associations (VSLAs) in Rubengera Sector – Rwanda J. Agric. Econ. Rural Devel. 182 Table 6. View of respondents about health changes Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent Valid Improved 87 94.6 94.6 94.6 Stayed the same Worsened Total 5 0 92 5.4 0.0 100.0 5.4 0.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 systems; to have 100 percent of all Rwandan population access clean water by 2017 from 74% by the end of 2010. By the end of 2013, the electricity access was 17% while access to clean water was 85% at national level. From the above data, the researcher found that the access to clean water and electricity in Rubenga sector is better in comparison with other areas of Rwanda. For the health sector, Table 6 shows that health situation of 94.6% of VSLAs members improved when they joined VSLAs whereas 5.4% believed that health of their household’s members had remained the same. From the above results, the researcher concluded that VSLAs contributes to improvement of health status of household members who participated in VSLAs. This health improvement is justified by the fact that VSLAs increase the ability of their members to pay health insurance for their families from loans, savings, and dividends. VSLAs also increased the food security in Rubengera sector because, through loans and share out the farmers increased the agriculture production as shown in Table 3. VSLAs have provided more ability of purchasing agriculture entrants to boost agricultural production. Due to VSLAs new modern farming activities have been created in Rubengera. The activities include mushroom growing, modern poultry and pig, and bee keeping without forgetting modern horticulture. Therefore, the farmers could increase the quality and quantity of agricultural production. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS The VSLAs offer the easiest benefits of saving, borrowing, and earning to rural population with low income; and participation in the VSLAs would result in improvements of social economic development indicators like: Employment, health, education, food security, shelters, and rural infrastructures. 100% of the respondents confirmed that since the adoption of VSLAs; the socio economic development of Rubengera sector were characterized by creation of new income generation activities, improved housing or community settlement, increase of children attending schools, improved social relationships, increase of hygiene and sanitation infrastructures, women empowerment, improved health conditions, increase of connection to electricity grid and to clean water, and increase of food security. Also it contributed to poverty alleviation, reduction of school dropout, and an increase of people having mutual health insurance in Rubengera sector. In light of the findings of this research, the researcher provides the following recommendations in order to improve the effectiveness of VSLAs in Rubengera Sector: The government of Rwanda could link other programs aiming at boosting the sustainable development of rural people, such as VUP and BDF with VSLAs program for promoting the culture of saving and entrepreneurship in rural areas. The local leaders could follow up the operations of VSLAs in order to prevent any fraudulent actions that may lead to the discouragement of VSLAs members. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The author would like to thank all VSLAs members and local leaders in Rubengera Sector for providing the relevant information to conduct this research work. REFERENCES Allen, Hugh CARE (2002) Microfinance for the Rural Poor that Works. International’s VSL Program in Africa. Arlene (2005). Conducting Research Literature Reviews: From the Internet to Paper. 2nd ed. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. Bailey (2001). Methods of Social Research. Free Press, New York Banerjee and Morella, (2011) Increasing access to infrastructure for Africa’s rural poor. UNICEF Besley, T., Coate, S., and Loury, G. (1993). “The economics of rotating savings and credit associations.” American Economic Review 83(4): 792. Chidiac, S. (2011). Village Savings and Loans: A Pathway to Financial Inclusion for Africa’s Poorest Households, Access Africa, CARE USA: Dares lama Czukas, K., Fafchamps, M., and Udry, C. (1998). Drought and saving in West Africa: Are livestock a buffer stock? Journal of Development Economics, 55, 273 Corbridge, S. (ed.) (1995). Development Studies a Reader. Arnold: London: Daryl C, Jonathan M, Stuart R, Ruthven RO (2009). Portfolios
  • 8. Impact of Village Saving and Loan Associations (VSLAs) in Rubengera Sector – Rwanda Isaac and Remmy 183 of the Poor: How the World’s Poor live on $2 a day. Princeton University Press Corbridge, S. (ed.) (1995). Development Studies a Reader. Arnold: London Daley-Harris, S. (2009). State of the Microcredit Summit Campaign Report 2009. Washington D.C.: Microcredit Summit Campaign. Ellis, A., M. Blackden, J. Cutura, F. MacCulloch, and H. Seebans (2007). Gender and Economic Growth: Creating Opportunities for Women. World Bank: Washington, D.C. Jacob, H. (1994). Borrowing Constraints and Progress through school: Evidence from Peru “The Review of Economics and Statistics 76 (7): 151-160. Jan Maes, (2007). Linkages between CARE’s VS and Las with Financial Institutions in Rwanda. CARE, Rwanda. Khandker, S. (2005). “Microfinance and Poverty: Evidence Using Panel Data from Bangladesh.” World Bank Economic Review 19(2): 263-286. Linda Westfall, (2009) Sampling methods, ASQ Quality Press: UK Littlefield, E., J. Morduch, and S. Hashemi (2003). Is Microfinance an Effective Strategy to Reach the Millennium Development Goals? CGAP’s Focus Note Series. Metin, K., Asli, O. and Ertac, S., (2003) ‘Determinants of private savings behavior in Turkey’, Applied Economics, v. 35, 12, pp. 1405-1416. MINECOFIN, (2013). Rwanda financial sector strategy: MINECOFIN, Kigali Seluhinga, Simon, (2013:76). Determinants of the probability of obtaining formal financial services in Tanzania. Journal of Sustainable Development in Africa (Volume 15, No.2, 2013) Puja Mondal, (2013) Rural Community: Top 10 Characteristics of the Rural Community– Explained! YAL Ltd, New deli. Thirlwall, A., 2002, ‘The mobilization of savings for growth and development in developing countries’, Icfai University Journal of Applied Economics, 1, 1, pp. 7-30. Mkoma et al, (2009) Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs), Field Operations Manual. VSL Associates LTD Accepted 02 May, 2017 Citation: Isaac M and Remmy M (2017). Impact of Village Saving and Loan Associations (VSLAs) in Rubengera Sector – Rwanda. Journal of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development, 3(1): 176-183. Copyright: © 2017 Isaac and Remmy. This is an open- access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are cited.