South Sudan is a fragile state facing significant economic challenges, with smallholder farmers being pivotal to its economy. Microfinance interventions have been implemented to support these farmers, but their impact on gender dynamics and financial performance remains underexplored. The study employed participant observation, semi-structured interviews, and focus group discussions with a diverse sample of male and female farmers across various regions of South Sudan. Data collection was conducted over a period of six months to capture the evolving dynamics of microfinance impact. Analysis revealed that women's financial performance improved significantly in terms of crop yields by 15% compared to men, despite facing higher risk tolerance levels due to socio-economic constraints and societal norms. The findings suggest that gender-specific support programmes within microfinance interventions are crucial for enhancing the economic resilience of South Sudanese smallholder farmers, particularly women who often have less access to resources and decision-making power in agricultural ventures. Microfinance providers should tailor their services to address cultural barriers and provide targeted training on financial management and market strategies that empower both men and women equally.
Labo et al. (Sun,) studied this question.