Social Impact Assessment of Microfinance Programmes - weman

• Participants were also not very clear about their future plans and aspirations. The
responses could easily be categorized as being very standard, highlighting a stable
economic set up, education and jobs for their children.
• In case of women clients, the decision-making and family issues did not change much
with their economic reliance. Key decisions, like arranging for and approving suitable
candidates for children’s marriages, attending family events and tokens to be given,
property, crops, main budgets, were taken by the head of the family. Their
participation level has also not changed. In some cases, husbands always sought their
views, and that continued to happen even after their economic contribution increased.
All clients and non-client were very articulate about their own rights as citizens of
Pakistan and elaborated on how different regime changes have only usurped those
rights.
Non Clients
The only two female non-clients FGD participants maintained that they do not feel
adequate in taking up any risk like accepting loans. While they know their small-scale
business can grow with the microcredit facility, they do not feel courageous enough to
take the plunge. So they use their own savings from their household budget to buy more
raw materials for handicrafts and their embroidery work.
6.4.2 Focus Group Discussions – Shahdadpur Urban and Rural
Group Composition:
• Focus Group Discussions were arranged with SAFWCO’s clients and non-clients
from Shahdadpur Urban and Rural areas.
• A total of 35 people participated in the discussion out of which 19 were women.
Discussions were conducted in small groups separately for men and women to ensure
open and candid responses.
• Representation of non-clients was ensured. Out of 16 men, only 5 were nonborrowers
while 6 non-clients were present in the women’s group.
• Education levels varied significantly – male participants were at least matriculate or
intermediate pass. While all female members never pursued education beyond
primary. Only one female member had completed her matriculation and was teaching
in a local school.
• The group had a mix of clients ranging from those in their fourth or fifth loan cycle
and those who were just one month old clients.
Involvement in Microcredit Programme – reasons and factors
• Income generation or enhancement was identified as the key reasons for which all
participants engaged in SAFWCO’s Credit and Enterprise Development Programme
(CED), across urban and rural areas, or gender.
• The immensity of needs, however, varied greatly amongst participants. For instance,
a female client from the urban area stated that she already has a business of candle
making which was supported by her husband and son as well. When she approached
SAFWCO for loans, her husband was taken ill and their productivity was reduced
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