Exploring the Impact of Women's Education in Rural Areas on Access to Financial Services and Poverty Reduction

Abstract

This paper explores the mediating effects of women education at rural areas on financial services outreach and poverty alleviation. Using a multi-dimensional study of how men's and women's educational backgrounds interact with financial inclusion, as well as how those relate to poverty in habitats offering varied economic activities including agriculture and non-farm, the research sets out to examine this under-explored area for offering nuanced understanding and evidence-based inputs for improving access to finance for women-pocketed households looking at overall poverty alleviation agenda. Through a mixed-methods approach, including surveys, interviews and focus group discussions with women beneficiaries of life-skills-based education (LSBE) and financial services, service providers and community leaders the study reveals multiple dimensions of returns on investment in women's education for economic empowerment and sustainable development. Results reveal the importance of educating women for improving financial literacy, bridging the gender gap, promoting decision making capacity and enhancing community resilience particularly in rural areas. The research also underscores the spillovers of women's education beyond personal empowerment, showing that educated women are drivers of economic development and broader societal growth. This paper should be of interest for policymakers, stakeholders and development practitioners who intend to design gender-tailored interventions aimed at improving financial inclusiveness and poverty reduction by studying the pathways through which women's education contributions to these outcomes in general and set up-based economy.