Microfinance in Burkina Faso : An evaluation of the Credit with Education program for women

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In this paper we are exploring the field of microfinance; financial services given to poor and low-income individuals who do not have access to formal financial markets. The purpose of our study is to investigate if the Credit with Education program provided by the microfinance institution RCPB in Burkina Faso has had an effect onthe participating women concerning their empowerment, knowledge aboutmanagement/micro enterprises and knowledge about child nutrition and health. We are using data from two surveys made in 2003 and 2004 by the consultant bureau Sud Consult that we are analysing in a qualitative manner in order to respond to our investigation question. This paper treats theories concerning the financial market andthe importance of education, health and women’s empowerment. We present facts about microfinance in general and in Burkina Faso in particular and we review earlier studies on the subject. Our findings suggest that the Credit with Education program has achieved to increase the women’s knowledge concerning child nutrition andhealth. The program has had a smaller but still a notable effect concerning the empowerment of the women, specifically in the region of West. The program has failed to in...