Empowering Women through Microfinance and Mentoring: NGO-Corporate Collaborations

Summary

The project examines collaborative efforts by corporations and charitable organisations which support disadvantaged women micro-entrepreneurs through microfinance, business development and mentoring.

Project Background and Aims

Malaysian corporations have partnered with charitable organisations to support disadvantaged women micro-entrepreneurs through microfinance, business development and mentoring. The partnerships harness corporate social responsibility initiatives to empower women though affordable finance and community links.  Preliminary evidence suggests that these innovative partnerships have contributed to poverty alleviation and improved the lives of marginalised women and their families. The research seeks to identify key features of these partnerships that have contributed to successful outcomes.

A principal aim of the project is that the knowledge it generates will aid the development of further collaborative community and corporate microfinance programmes that work to improve the lives of women and their families.

The project is funded by the Faculty of Business and Economics Australia-Malaysia 2021-2022 Research Collaboration Development Scheme.

Researchers

• Dr Vivien Chen
• A/Prof Dr Grace Lee Hooi Yean (MUM)
• Dr Nicola Charwat
• Dr Sharon Koh (MUM)

Methodology

The researchers will draw on an interdisciplinary approach, drawing from legal and regulatory studies and economics perspectives. The project employs quantitative and qualitative research methods to gain a more nuanced understanding of the key features of those partnerships which have helped alleviate poverty and disadvantage. The empirical methods for the research include randomised controlled trials and surveys to measure the impact of the interventions on women participants.