MICROFINANCE IN NIGER: A MEANS TO PROMOTE WOMEN’S ECONOMIC INDEPENDENCE AND THE COUNTRY’S ADVANCEMENT

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to stimulate Nigerien women’s active par-ticipation in the country’s advancement through the use of proven micro-finance methodologies and framework. Out of the 14.7 million Nigerien in-habitants, 63% live below the poverty line, and 43% of men are literate compared to 15% of women. Furthermore, in 2009, net primary school en-rollment was 54%, with only 40% graduating. Low literacy rates hinder women’s economic and social mobility, thus considerably minimizing the im-pact of their active participation in the country’s development. While wom-en’s lack of education is in some ways attributable to early marriages and religious beliefs, further investigation through review of literature and quali-tative inquiry in the form of interviews of girls and women are needed to un-cover other factors involved, their consequences, and to discover effective ways to address these gender inequities. Subsequently, this study will focus on identifying and investigating microfinance models that are successful in developing countries that share the same demographics as Niger. Additional-ly, the psychological and socio-economic impact of microloans on women will be investigated. Finally, the role that international organisms such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, play in the efforts for poor countries such as Niger to attain economic stability will be investigated.