The study aimed at investigating the relationship between gender and poverty. Poverty is a major obstacle to development in Kenya and in spite of efforts by the government and NGOs to fight it, it persists. Since poverty affects men and women differently, the study sought to investigate whether the solutions offered in fighting poverty recognize and address gender concerns. The study set out to establish how gender concerns have been incorporated and addressed in five anti-poverty projects in Majengo slum in Nyeri County. The objectives of the study were to assess how gender influences the incidences of poverty in Majengo slums, to identify how men and women are involved in fight against poverty in the slums, to establish the benefits of poverty reduction to both men and women and to suggest more strategies of involving gender in poverty reduction in Majengo slums. The study applied the Harvard Analytical Framework as a theoretical underpinning to help map out the productive and reproductive work men and women do in the community. The study design used was descriptive with both qualitative and quantitative techniques. Key participants were the project management teams, project members and sponsors. Simple random sampling method was used to select the projects and stratified random sampling for the project members. Data was collected using questionnaires and interview schedules where the reliability and validity was achieved through the test-retest method that allowed the researcher to make the necessary adjustments to the content of the study, and analyzed using statistical package for social scientists (SPSS) program. The study employed descriptive statistics such as means, frequencies and mode. The findings were then presented using graphs, charts and tables. The findings showed that the gender of an individual influences their poverty levels and that women more than men, seeking economic empowerment to meet their financial demands, tend to join project groups which have a positive impact on their social and economic wellbeing which is an important indicator in poverty reduction. The study recommends that the project managers should find ways of incorporating more men into their projects as well as employ proper channels of communication to facilitate better management of the projects. Further, the study recommends that government should come up with bigger and all inclusive projects that can help alleviate poverty across a bigger constituency.
Table of Contents
1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study
1.2 Statement of the Problem
1.3 Objectives of the Study
1.4 Research Questions
1.5 Justification of the Study
1.6 Significance of the Study
1.7 Scope of the Study
1.8 Limitations of the Study
2. LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 Introduction
2.2 Gender and Poverty
2.3 Involvement of Men and Women in Poverty Reduction Projects
2.4 Benefits of Gender Mainstreaming in Poverty Reduction
2.5 Analytical Framework
2.6 Conceptual Framework
3. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Research Design
3.3 Site of the Study
3.4 Target Population
3.5 Sampling Techniques and Sample Size
3.6 Research Instruments
3.7 Pre-testing of Research Instruments
3.8 Research Assistants
3.9 Data Analysis and Presentation
3.10 Data Management and Ethical Considerations
4. RESEARCH FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION
4.1 Introduction
4.2 Biographical Data
4.2.1 Gender of the Respondents
4.2.2 Marital Status of the Respondents
4.2.3 Age of the Respondents
4.3 Gender Influence on Poverty
4.3.1 Pearson Correlation
4.3.2 Respondents’ Education Levels
4.3.3 Source of Income of the Respondents
4.3.4 Amount of Monthly Income of the Respondents
4.3.5 Monthly Household Expenditure
4.3.6 Catering for the Household Budget
4.3.7 Nature and Ownership of Income Generating Assets by Respondents
4.3.8 Respondents’ Dependants and their Relationship with them
4.4 Involvement of Men and Women in Poverty Reduction Projects
4.4.1 Gender Ratios in Project Membership
4.4.2 Respondents’ Length of Time in the Project
4.4.3 Project Activities
4.4.4 Impact of Domestic duties on Members’ Participation
4.4.5 Involvement of Members in Project Identification and Initiation
4.4.6 Involvement of Men and Women in Project Activities
4.4.7 Reflection of Men’s and Women’s Interests in the Projects
4.4.8 Discrimination of Project Members
4.4.9 Members’ Involvement in Evaluating the Projects
4.5 Gender Mainstreaming in Poverty Reduction
4.5.1 Positive Effect of Projects on Members’ Lives
4.5.2 Role of Projects in Strengthening Members’ Capacity to Meet Basic Needs
4.5.3 Respondents Views on which Gender Benefitted More from the Projects
4.5.4 Appreciation of Involvement of Men and Women in Fighting Poverty
5. SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
5.1 Introduction
5.2 Summary of the Findings
5.3 Conclusions
5.4 Recommendations
5.5 Suggestions for Further Research
Research Objectives and Themes
The primary objective of this study is to analyze gender inclusiveness in selected poverty reduction projects within the Majengo slums of Nyeri County, Kenya, specifically investigating how poverty impacts men and women differently and the extent to which existing projects address these gender-specific needs.
- Assessment of how gender influences poverty levels among Majengo slum residents.
- Examination of male and female involvement in identifying, planning, and implementing poverty reduction initiatives.
- Identification of specific benefits realized by men and women from these poverty reduction projects.
- Development of more effective, gender-inclusive strategies for poverty eradication efforts.
Excerpt from the Book
1.1 Background of the Study
Poverty in the slums as anywhere else affects men and women differently. This calls for any strategy aimed at poverty reduction to be cognizant of both men’s and women’s concerns and interests. In spite of many efforts at the national and international level to understand and reduce poverty, little success has been achieved in narrowing the gender gap (Jato, 2004). According to Chant (2003), most of the methods adopted to fight poverty are gender neutral and gender blind and therefore do not adequately address the core reasons that have led to poverty in the first place.
Poverty has for long been seen as a rural problem and has been dealt with as such, but with rapid urbanization in many parts of the world, it is now increasingly becoming an urban problem especially in developing countries. The poor economic status of these countries deny them the capacity to invest in urban infrastructure and to provide economic opportunities for urban residents (CIESIN)/Columbia University (2005). A majority of the poor in urban areas live in slums marked by dilapidated houses without access to proper sanitation, clean water, or garbage collection.
Slum dwellers around the world face problems associated with poverty, poor living conditions and lack of social safety nets. Poverty in the slums however, has a distinctively gendered dimension in that most of the challenges like inadequate and insecure housing, overcrowding, pollution, lack of water and electricity which are manifestations of urban poverty affect women more than men (UN-HABITAT, 2003). Women’s exposure to violence and sexual abuse in the slums also puts their lives at more risk. To ensure sustainable quality of life for all urban residents therefore, factors that hinder either gender in contributing to and benefitting from development should be recognized and addressed.
Summary of Chapters
CHAPTER ONE: Introduces the background, problem statement, objectives, and significance of the study regarding gender-inclusive poverty reduction in Majengo slums.
CHAPTER TWO: Reviews literature on gender and poverty, the role of men and women in development projects, and established analytical frameworks for gender analysis.
CHAPTER THREE: Details the research methodology, including the descriptive research design, population sampling, instrumentation, and data analysis techniques employed.
CHAPTER FOUR: Presents and discusses the research findings, analyzing demographic data, income, expenditure, and the level of involvement of men and women in the projects.
CHAPTER FIVE: Summarizes the study findings, draws conclusions, and provides recommendations for improving gender inclusiveness in future poverty reduction initiatives.
Keywords
Poverty reduction, Gender inclusiveness, Majengo slums, Gender mainstreaming, Economic empowerment, Poverty eradication, Community-based projects, Gender equality, Social exclusion, Nyeri County, Development projects, Household income.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research thesis?
This thesis investigates the relationship between gender and poverty within selected community-based poverty reduction projects in the Majengo slums of Nyeri County, Kenya.
What are the primary thematic areas covered?
The study covers gender differences in poverty, the inclusion of men and women in development projects, the benefits of gender mainstreaming, and the effectiveness of current anti-poverty initiatives.
What is the central research objective?
The main objective is to analyze the level of gender inclusiveness in poverty reduction projects and to understand how men and women participate in and benefit from these initiatives.
Which methodology does the author apply?
The author employs a descriptive research design, utilizing both qualitative and quantitative techniques, including structured questionnaires and interview schedules with project members and sponsors.
What does the main body of the work analyze?
The main body examines demographic factors, income sources, household expenditures, and the specific roles men and women play in identifying, initiating, and evaluating poverty reduction projects.
Which keywords characterize this work?
Key terms include poverty reduction, gender mainstreaming, economic empowerment, Majengo slums, and gender equality.
How do domestic responsibilities affect women's participation in these projects?
The study finds that domestic duties act as a significant barrier for women, often limiting their time and resulting in late arrivals or missed meetings, which can lead to fines and reduced project participation.
What are the study's conclusions regarding project benefits?
The study concludes that while projects have provided positive economic impacts through savings and loans, women often benefit more due to their urgent need for economic empowerment to handle household and reproductive responsibilities, whereas male participation remains comparatively lower.
- Quote paper
- Peter Gitihu (Author), 2016, Gender and Poverty. A study of Majengo Slums, Kenya, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/419911
