Open AccessMicrofinance Services and the Clients’ Socioeconomic Wellbeing During the Covid-19 Pandemic in Uganda
Author(s) -
James Kizza
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
east african journal of business and economics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2707-4269
pISSN - 2707-4250
DOI - 10.37284/eajbe.4.1.510
Subject(s) - microfinance , socioeconomic status , empowerment , business , economic growth , socioeconomic development , pandemic , covid-19 , socioeconomics , economics , medicine , environmental health , population , disease , pathology , infectious disease (medical specialty)
Microfinance is reported to be an effective tool of empowerment for vulnerable and marginalised groups, especially women. This study set out to investigate the relationship between microfinance services and the clients’ socioeconomic wellbeing during the Covid-19 pandemic in Uganda. The study involved 73 employees of microfinance institutions that deal directly with the clients. The study findings revealed that while no significant relationship exists between microfinance services and clients’ socioeconomic wellbeing, there is a significant moderate positive relationship between microfinance client protection policies and the clients’ socioeconomic wellbeing. The regression model revealed that a unit increase in client protection policies increases the socioeconomic wellbeing of microfinance services beneficiaries by 72%. It is recommended that microfinance institutions integrate client protection policies in their activities in line with their known social mission