The Challenges Confronting Small Scale Businesses in accessing Microfinance Services from MFIs Case Study: Rural Tanzania

Abstract

Microfinance services from microfinance institutions assist small scale businesses in the development and expansion of their businesses especially in rural areas. This study was carried out to evaluate the accessibility of microfinance services together with the challenges that small scale businesses are facing when accessing microfinance services from the main stream of MFIs in Mvomero district in Tanzania. The data collected through questionnaire were administered to 195 small scale businesses and analyzed with Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS) version 21. The study shows that small scale businesses have access and also have benefited in microfinance services from different MFIs. Nevertheless, there are many challenges confronting small scale businesses when accessing microfinance services. Therefore, the researchers recommend that microfinance institution should set up more flexible, reasonable and attractive requirements in financing small scale businesses. Also, the government and other stakeholders should set a good financial structures and legal systems which will allow the financial institutions especially microfinance institutions to provide finance startups to newly establish businesses.