Women's social and economic projects : experiences from coast province

Abstr.: Over the past 15 years the Kenyan government has pursued a policy to stimulate the participation of women in the process of development. Women's groups have been the main focus of government policies in this regard. This paper presents the results of research, undertaken in 1985 and 1986, on women's groups in Coast Province in Kenya. The areas selected for this study are Diani-Ukunda in Kwale District and Mtwapa in Kilifi District. The report first describes the social and economic characteristics of the research locations, and the position of women in the family and their role in agriculture. Then it focuses on the importance of women's groups from a viewpoint of community development, but also on whether women gain an income from their joint activities. It is argued that the groups concerned offer only a few members a small and irregular income. The conditions connected with this situation and nonmaterial rewards for the group members are discussed. It is shown that the groups in Diani-Ukunda have a rather limited importance as far as community services are concerned, while the Mtwapa groups perform much better in this respect. The conditions connected with the differences in success are discussed as well as the motivations of members who, in spite of the slow progress of their groups, continue to participate