An Assessment of the Potential and Challenges Faced by Women-Driven Community Projects Towards the Eradication of Poverty in Rural Areas : The Case of Mutale Municipality

This study aims at investigating the potential and the impact of two women-initiated community projects to alleviate poverty in the Mutale Municipality. The study also looks at the challenges faced by women-driven community projects in the Mutale Municipality. Qualitative research methodology has been used to determine the nature and impact of women-driven community projects in alleviating poverty in rural areas around the Mutale Municipality. Interviews were used as the research instrument to collect data from 38 interviewees about the two women-initiated community projects in the Mutale Municipality. The findings revealed a positive impact of the women-driven community projects on the alleviation of poverty in the area. Furthermore, the findings also revealed a significant contribution by women through their community projects. Another important finding of this study is the lack of training and resources such as financial, machinery and transport to support women-initiated community projects. This study calls for women-driven community projects to receive equal support in terms of training and resources from the government and the private sector in order to promote livelihood and sustainability of the projects initiated and driven by women.