South Asian Journal of Social Studies and Economics

Background: Donor-funded water projects are widely implemented in developing countries to improve access to safe water, reduce household water burdens, and support livelihood development. In rural communities, women often bear primary responsibility for household water collection, which can limit their participation in income-generating activities, leadership, and community decision-making. However, limited empirical evidence exists on how donor-funded water projects are perceived to contribute to women’s socio-economic empowerment in Gatundu North Sub-County, Kenya.

Aim: This study assessed the perceived contribution of social inclusion benefits from donor-funded water projects to women’s socio-economic empowerment in Gatundu North Sub-County, Kenya.

Methodology: The study adopted a descriptive cross-sectional research design. The target population comprised 1,004 women beneficiaries of donor-funded water projects, from which a sample of 100 respondents was selected using systematic random sampling. Primary data were collected using structured questionnaires, interviews, and observation, while secondary data were obtained from relevant records and documented sources. Women’s socio-economic empowerment was assessed descriptively using four indicators: decision-making ability, social influence, financial autonomy, and economic stability. Data were coded, cleaned, and analysed using SPSS Version 27.0. Descriptive statistics, mainly frequencies and percentages, were used to present the findings.

Results: Based on the study’s descriptive classification, 78% of respondents were categorized as socio-economically empowered, while 22% were categorized as not empowered. Among the empowerment indicators, 31% of respondents were associated with decision-making ability, 22% with social influence, 24% with financial autonomy, and 23% with economic stability. The findings further showed that respondents perceived donor-funded water projects as contributing to empowerment through several social inclusion benefits. Specifically, 63% agreed or strongly agreed that access to quality water contributed to their socio-economic empowerment, mainly by reducing time spent fetching water, improving hygiene, and supporting productive activities. In addition, 62% agreed or strongly agreed that capacity-building initiatives enhanced empowerment through improved managerial, entrepreneurial, and decision-making skills. Partnership opportunities were perceived as beneficial by 61% of respondents, while 60% agreed or strongly agreed that support for community programmes contributed to improved welfare and project sustainability.

Conclusion: The study concludes that women beneficiaries generally perceived donor-funded water projects as contributing to socio-economic empowerment through improved access to quality water, capacity-building initiatives, partnership opportunities, and support for community programmes. However, because the study relied on descriptive cross-sectional data, the findings should be interpreted as perceived contributions rather than causal or statistically significant effects. Strengthening gender-responsive planning, women’s participation in project governance, financial literacy, and post-donor sustainability mechanisms may enhance the long-term empowerment outcomes of donor-funded water projects.