A dissertation submitted in a partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of bachelors of applied accounting: auditing and information systems. BAA-AIS MCA 2017 ZO 0004

Micro-finance has been recommended as a powerful tool that tool that could assist poor people to improve their living standards by providing small amounts of money to stars or expand businesses.

This study was aimed at establishing the role of micro-finance in the socio-economic development of a women in a community. The study was conducted in Manase Township. The sample of the study consisted of the 80 women beneficiaries. The purposive sampling was employed in this study in selecting these women.

A variety of literature on Micro-finance was reviewed. During the literature review, it was discovered that the literature on the impact of micro-finance on socio-economic development of women in Manase was lacking. By filling this gap, this research will be a referral document for other researchers and resources book for micro-finance institutions during the implementation of their programs. The study was carried out using both quantitative and qualitative methods. Questionnaires were used to collect data that was presented in bar charts and pie charts to show the role played by micro-finance in the socio-economic development of women in a community.

The study established that women who accessed the loans from MFIs were able to improve their socio-economic status through starting up and or expanding investments and enterprises, paying school fees for their children, purchase of household items like furniture , land and building of houses etc.

The research also found out that women face challenges in their access and utilization of the MFIs services and these include; small amounts disbursed, high interest rates etc.

The respondents recommended that the government should intervene through Central bank, especially where interest is high and also monitor the operations of the MFIs so that they offer adequate services to the women. For the micro-finance beneficiaries, the beneficiaries recommended that they should not divert the funds but should use them for the purpose intended. Furthermore, they should not move from one MFIs to another. The results of the research have led to the assertion and affirmation that although the benefits may vary from one beneficiary to another and from one community to another, micro-finance has in various ways played a significant role in the socio-economic development of women in Manase Township.