Socio-economic impacts of micro-credit projects in Kachin State, The Northern Myanmar | |
| Author | Lahkang Naw Aung |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.RD-06-05 |
| Subject(s) | Microfinance--Social aspects--Myanmar--Kachin State Microfinance--Economic aspects--Myanmar--Kachin State |
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Abstract | This research examines the impacts of Micro-Credit Union (MCU) projects to the rural livelihood in Kachin State of Northern of Myanmar. The studied area had been civil unrest affected area from over 3 decade since 1961 to 1994 until cease-fire was signed by both parties. MCU is used as a development tool to re-establish and promote the social and economic status of the war-torn community after civil-unrest that brought them to the poverty in their livelihood and caused them undeveloped in all aspects of life for a generation. The villagers set up MCUs as their own fund groups by using their money resources to address such undesired situation. The study investigates how the MCU affects the rural poor, and explores the changes and effects that MCU projects have produced on rural household livelihood in aspects of social and economic condition in the two MCU project implemented - villages: Hkakum and Janmai/Ayemyatayar. There has been significant improvement or changes in their livelihood. The impacts of MCU on members' household livelihood in economic aspect were recognized such as increased employment opportunity, income sources and household income as well as expenditure, assets and release from high interest loan in these two areas. The impacts of the project in social aspect were identified as changing in improvement of household food security, housing, health and education, learning and acquiring the new skills, and the women status respondents in the two villages. It also assesses the institutional aspect of each MCU including the organization structures, responsibilities, activities, rules and regulations, as well as how it affects to operation. Similarly the effectiveness of the project depends on how the project is organized and functioned. The study has gone through the analysis on management of credit and saving in each MCU project with applying its different practice. Overall, the study discovers that there have been positively significant changes in improvement of rural household livelihood between the situations before and after receiving MCU services in two studied villages. The study examines members' perception of MCU regarding satisfaction and benefit gained from MCU and their opinion on MCU helping them to stand on their own feet, that brought to them hope an confidence, improvement and development of better life, strengthen their capacity building with which to grow up in all aspects, secure life in future, and helps them to liberate out of vicious cycle of poverty. Suggestion and recommendation for further improvement of MCU projects in the future, based on finding and analysis of the projects have been provided for consideration for better implication by the two MCU projects, KBC and funding agencies |
| Year | 2006 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) |
| Department | Department of Development and Sustainability (DDS) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Rural Development, Gender and Resources (RD) |
| Chairperson(s) | Thapa, Gopal B.; |
| Examination Committee(s) | Soparth Pongquan;Ahmad, Mokbul Morshed; |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Asian Institute of Technology Fellowship;Myanmar Baptist Convention; |
| Degree | Thesis (M. Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2006 |