FINANCIAL SERVICES AS A TRANSFORMATIVE SOCIAL CHANGE MECHANISM: THE CASE OF MICROFINANCE PARTNERSHIPS WITH WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS IN CAMEROON

Abstract

Over the past decades social problems, and poverty in particular, have been of great concern to international organisations, academics and practitioners. The multidimensional nature of poverty has made intervention programs aimed at alleviating poverty very challenging. Social partnerships have been hailed for their potential to bridge the challenges, difficulties and differences faced by individual sectors, and offer useful solutions and compromise that fulfil the mission of the partners and the overall objective of addressing the social problem set out by such partnerships. Previous studies on cross-sector partnerships have not looked at change specifically at the micro (individual) level and the role of the intended beneficiary in the partnership process.

The study examines the interaction of poor women and microfinance institutions in cross-sector partnerships involving microfinance institutions and non-profit organisations in Cameroon in Sub-Saharan Africa. The thesis examines two case studies whose main objective and motive is to address poverty as a social issue prevalent in communities in the North West and South West regions of Cameroon. It focuses on the formation and implementation processes of such partnerships, with particular attention on the role of the beneficiary that is, the voice of the beneficiary in the process and outcome of the partnership. The active involvement and participation of beneficiaries has a higher potential for transformative social change.

The study focuses on value creation processes at the micro (individual) level for the intended beneficiaries of the two partnership case studies. By studying the interaction process between microfinance institutions and non-profit organisations in cross-sector partnerships, it aims to identify areas within the interaction process with the potential to increase value creation through capability development, and the enhancement of functioning for the beneficiaries. It also aims to identify opportunities for the involvement and participation of the beneficiaries in partnership processes that facilitate transformative social change and impact on the partnership organisations.

This thesis argues that, involving beneficiaries in the formation and implementation processes of cross-sector partnerships for poverty alleviation, is essential to maximise financial services for transformative social change.