Gender, Cooperative Organisation and Participatory Intervention in Rural Tanzania
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Gender, cooperative organisation and participatory intervention in rural Tanzania A case study of different types of cooperatives and Moshi University College’s support to rural women Margareth Msonganzila Thesis committee Promotor Prof. dr. P. Richards Professor of Technology and Agrarian Development Wageningen University Co-promotors Dr. ir. C.J.M. Almekinders Assistant professor, Knowledge, Technology and Innovation Group Wageningen University Dr. M.P.M. van der Burg Assistant professor, Gender Studies, Sociology of Consumers and Households Wageningen University Other members Prof. dr. L.E. Visser, Wageningen University Prof. dr. B. Wisner, University London College, UK / Oberlin College, USA Dr. A. van Tilburg, Wageningen University Dr. ir. M.Z. Zwarteveen, Wageningen University This research was conducted under the auspices of the Wageningen School of Social Sciences (WASS) Gender, cooperative organisation and participatory intervention in rural Tanzania A case study of different types of cooperatives and Moshi University College’s support to rural women Margareth Msonganzila Thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of doctor at Wageningen University by the authority of the Rector Magnificus Prof. dr. M.J. Kropff, in the presence of the Thesis Committee appointed by the Academic Board to be defended in public on Thursday 21 March 2013 at 11 a.m. in the Aula. Margareth Msonganzila Gender, cooperative organisation and participatory intervention in rural Tanzania. A case study of different types of cooperatives and Moshi University College’s support to rural women. 244 pages. Thesis, Wageningen University, Wageningen, NL (2013) With references, with summaries in Dutch and English ISBN: 978 94 6173 545 4 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The contribution of various individuals and institutions, made this work come to fruition. Firstly, I express my thanks to the PAU programme under TAD department for offering the study opportunity, and the Rockefeller foundation and NUFFIC-NFP fellowship for funding my study. I thank the Management of MUCCoBS for granting me a study leave, various support and encouragements. This study would have been impossible without their support and I am therefore profoundly thankful. I acknowledge the guidance and encouragement from my supervisory team made up of Prof. Dr. Paul Richards, Dr. Conny Almekinders and Dr. Margreet van der Burg for their support in all phases of proposal development, field work and thesis writing. I deeply appreciate their invaluable and critical comments which greatly improved this manuscript. Paul, I appreciate your positive attitude and words of encouragement that kept me going. Generally your insightful comments, wealth of experience and oratory skills always intrigued, inspired and encouraged me to work especially at times when I was feeling like giving up. Conny, I thank you for your academic guidance for literature search and during my proposal development and thesis writing stage. I recall your advice and comment where you kept on encouraging me to dig deep during the interview in the field. I really appreciate the time you invested and corrections that you made to the proposal and final thesis which contributed to the perfection of the book. Conny, you were very resourceful not only in academic input, but more so in the administration aspects. Being the programme coordinator we nicknamed you ‘MAMA PAU’ in good faith and friendship. Margreet, I like and appreciate the consistent and positive support that you extended to ensure that the write-up meets scientific standards. You tirelessly listened to my arguments, and critiqued my numerous drafts. I really appreciate your endurance, helpful comments and friendly atmosphere that made my work enjoyable. I sincerely acknowledge the support rendered by staff members of Technology and Agriculture Group that provided stimulating and intellectual discussions during lunch seminar presentations. Special thanks to Edwin Nuijten, I always remember the special meals you prepared to us and the orientation to the Dutch culture. You were also interested in my work and you were eager to know my progress. Inge Ruisch, I thank you for your friendly and efficient secretarial and administrative support. You became a reliable assistance, charming, caring, your smile and laughter made me happy and feel at home. Inge you excelled in adopting African culture and peoples, especially in the dance and language! I also thank Mirte Hultink and Edwin Haasjes for their help in the layout and formatting of the thesis. I like to thank my ‘peers’ Philip, Aura, Mwangi, Ramaru, Riya and cohort members of the PAU program for their moral, academic and sisterly support. I will always treasurer your i encouragement, advice and friendship. I recall the delicious dinners we prepared together, the computer assistance from Mwangi and his exchange of notes and literatures. I thank Tanzanian colleagues at WUR for their support while in Netherlands, particularly Joyce Challe who was close to me. You all supported me academically and in social life I say ASANTE SANA. I am deeply indebted to a number of Dutch families: Jaco and Ilva, Ruud and Tony, and Jacob and Glyeske and your parents. You accepted me in your homes and surely I will always treasure the memories of delicious Dutch meals you offered me. You further showed me beautiful places in the Netherlands and ensured I felt comfortable when I was homesick. My profound gratitude to colleagues at the MUCCoBS. To mention some, my special thanks to Suleman Chambo the former Principal and the current Principal Prof Dr Faustine Bee. I appreciate all the encouragement and support you offered in good faith. You never let me down in whatever support I needed for completing my studies. I am equally grateful to Mr Machimu, Diyamett, Mangasini, Eligius Danda, Esther Towo, Ester Dambal, Mrs Mkwizu and others who supported me in one way or the other. Special thanks are due to the research team supporting my field work. I offer gratitude to the assistant researchers for effective interviews and their diligence in carrying out the survey. In a special way I would like to extend my thanks to Teckla, Christina, Malunde, Limihagati, Semali, Lukas Njau and Mama Osiri who dedicated their time during data collection. I am very grateful for the willingness and enthusiasm by all Cooperative and village leaders in the communities I visited. Special mentions of thanks are due to key informants at MUCCoBS and the Unions involved. Lastly, but not least, I dedicate this thesis to my beloved husband, the late Robert Msonganzila who died during my study, for his encouragement and untiring support. My daughters Kabagole, Kwigema, Nkamba, Bahati, Pendo and my son Lubango for their resilience and for taking care of themselves during my absence, and for assistance they rendered to me. Their love and affection made my PhD study successful. Dedication also to my lovely mother Maria who passed away in 2001. To my Father Pimile for his encouragement, my young sisters and brothers, and a special mention to the late Georgia Pimile who was taking care of my family and unfortunately died during my studies; and all relatives for their material, moral and emotional support during difficult times of grief. I proved that studying for a PhD is a ‘family business’. All your support and sacrifices are appreciated. ii CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ....................................................................................................................................... I CONTENTS III ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS .................................................................................................................. IX CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................. 1 1.1. INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................................................... 1 1.2. COOPERATIVE ORGANISATION AND PARTICIPATORY DEVELOPMENT .................................................................... 1 1.2.1. Renewed attention for cooperatives and participatory development .......................................... 1 1.2.2. Cooperative organisation: institutionalised form of cooperation and participation ..................... 2 1.2.3. Cooperative organisation and rural women in Tanzania .............................................................. 4 1.3. GENDER, COOPERATION AND PARTICIPATORY INTERVENTION IN RURAL TANZANIA ................................................ 5 1.3.1. Acknowledgement of economic role of rural women in Tanzania ................................................ 5 1.3.2. Tanzanian policies toward gender transformation ....................................................................... 5 1.3.3. Interventions of the GAD department of Moshi University College .............................................. 7 1.3.4. My motivation and position .......................................................................................................... 8 1.4. CONCLUDING STATEMENT OF THE RESEARCH PROBLEM ................................................................................... 9 1.5. RESEARCH OBJECTIVES AND QUESTIONS ..................................................................................................... 10 1.6. RESEARCH STRATEGY AND APPROACH ........................................................................................................ 10 1.6.1. Ethnography