Women's role in sustainable development project in rural indonesia : A case study of ACCESS project, united nations development programme

Title: Women's role in sustainable development project in rural indonesia : A case study of ACCESS project, united nations development programme

Author: Miss Elizabeth Gabriela

Year: 2024

Keywords: Women's Empowerment , Sustainable Energy, ACCESS Project , Gender Equality

Theme: Gender

Advisor(s): Khathaleeya Liamdee

The full thesis available here.

Abstract: This research focuses on the role of women participants in sustainable development projects in rural Indonesia, analyzing intricacies through Ecofeminism and intersectionality. More specifically, it examines the ACCESS Project implemented by UNDP in four provinces, aiming to address women’s engagement in the energy sector. ACCESS is a case study exploring empowerment within an institutionally gendered landscape—bounded by state quotas—for employment. Employing qualitative methods such as document analysis and semi-structured interviews with eight participants, the study draws from Ecofeminism and intersectionality to understand its central arguments. The findings depict progress toward gender inclusion in technical management for leadership roles, allowing women to challenge patriarchal divisions. At the same time, persistent barriers shaped by social identity norms reinforced prevailing societal structures that posed restrictions for women’s participation. This underscores that participation cultivated agency; however, it remained delicate without consistent structural backing—highlighting uneven distribution among diverse participant identities. This study broadens the application of Ecofeminism and intersectionality while underscoring the need for development approaches that strive for context-responsive policies instead of placeholders like numerical targets

Beyond the ‘boy crisis’ : Reframing gender performativity in belgian classrooms

Title: Beyond the ‘boy crisis’ : Reframing gender performativity in belgian classrooms

Author: Miss Marjolein Vanmaercke

Year: 2024

Keywords: Gender performativity, boy crisis, education and gender, Belgian classrooms, gender norms, masculinity in education, feminization of education, pedagogy and gender

Theme: Gender

Advisor(s): Kasira Cheeppensook

The full thesis available here.

Abstract: This thesis challenges the dominant discourse surrounding the so-called "boy crisis" in education by critically examining gender performativity in Belgian classrooms. Rather than accepting the narrative that boys are inherently disadvantaged in contemporary schooling, this study interrogates how gender is constructed and performed within educational settings. Drawing on Judith Butler’s theory of performativity, the research explores how teachers, curricula, and peer interactions contribute to the reinforcement or subversion of traditional gender norms. Using qualitative methods, including classroom observations and interviews with educators and students, the study highlights the ways in which gendered expectations shape students' educational experiences and outcomes. The findings suggest that the framing of the “boy crisis” oversimplifies the complex dynamics of gender and education, often reinforcing binary understandings that obscure broader issues of inequality. By shifting the focus from deficit-based narratives to the performative nature of gender, this research advocates for more inclusive and nuanced pedagogical approaches that challenge rigid gender norms and foster equitable learning environments for all students

Unpacking gender inequality for inclusive development: a case study of Myanmar female migrant workers in Samut Sakhon Province, Thailand

Title: Unpacking gender inequality for inclusive development: a case study of Myanmar female migrant workers in Samut Sakhon Province, Thailand

Author: Miss Hsan Thawdar Htun

Year: 2022

Keywords: Gender inequality, Gender Discrimination, Intersectionality, Myanmar female migrant workers, Thailand’s seafood industry

Theme: Gender

Advisor(s): Naruemon Thabchumpon

The full thesis available here.

Abstract: The study aims to address the issue of gender inequality in Thailand's seafood industry, with a specific focus on Myanmar female migrant workers in Mahachai (Samut Sakhon province). Although women migrant workers play a significant role in Thailand's economy, they have been facing various challenges in low-wage industries. Gender inequality remains a prominent concern in these low-skilled labor-intensive workplaces like seafood industry. While there have been studies on migration that include both men and women or focus solely on women, gender has not received sufficient emphasis in understanding the experiences of female migrant workers, particularly in the seafood industry. This research aims to fill this gap by examining the prevalent features of gender inequality in the working and living conditions of Myanmar female migrant workers in the seafood industry by applying the intersectionality theory. The research adopts a case-study qualitative approach, by collecting primary and secondary data. Face-to-face semi-structured interviews are conducted with 10 Myanmar female migrant workers from the seafood industry, both within and outside formal factory settings as well as 2 civil society organization members from the labour network called Migrant Workers Rights Network (MWRN). By using content analysis and presenting unique case studies of female migrant workers, the study finds that Myanmar female migrant workers in the seafood industry, face gender discrimination and gender inequality based on multiple intersecting factors such as gender, migration status, marital status, ethnicity that relates to intersectionality. Gender inequality and discrimination features are more prevalent when migration status is added in the intersection of gender and marital status in the seafood industry. The findings of this research will serve as a valuable resource for development experts and non-governmental actors to develop gender-responsive strategies and to promote the role of women migrant workers in Thailand's industrial growth

Queering The Migrant Experience: Gay Filipino Workers’ Performance of Gender and Sexual Identities in Bangkok

Title: Queering The Migrant Experience: Gay Filipino Workers’ Performance of Gender and Sexual Identities in Bangkok

Author: Mr.Hans Kevin Madanguit

Year: 2021

Keywords: LGBTQ+, QUEER, SPACE, MIGRATION, BANGKOK, GAY FILIPINOS

Theme: Gender

Advisor(s): Bhanubhatra Jittiang

The full thesis available here.

Abstract: The Philippine migration scholarship heavily focuses on heteronormative issues that depict the migrant workers as heterosexuals. Due to this trend, there is a scarcity of studies on overseas Filipino workers who identify as part of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ+) Community. Hence, this qualitative research focuses on eleven documented Filipino workers in Thailand who are males assigned at birth and identify as gay homosexuals. Individual informal interviews were employed to investigate how they practice their non-normative gender and sexuality, given their multiple yet intersectional social identities in a country with vibrant queer cultures. It also probes the relationship between the queer Filipino migrant laborers and the Thai capital Bangkok’s queer spaces and how they influence one another. By drawing my analyses on queer theory to simultaneously engage the three disciplines of sexuality, spaces, and migration, the research exposes the critical role of queer spaces in the formation and confirmation of the migrants’ gender and sexual identities through their experience in finding acceptance and belongingness as well as satisfying their romantic and sexual pursuits in both physical and online gay-oriented spaces. The investigation led to a realization that their presence in these spaces became a contributing factor in the intensification of existing issues on the function and significance of gay spaces, such as its heterosexualization and reinforced gay audience segmentation while homonormalization is happening in heterosexual spaces, which may all have a serious impact on the future of queer cultures that Thailand had cultivated for more than half a century. This observation banks on the idea that although space is helpful in an individual’s identity formation, an individual is basically the creator of space because it is social. Queering the migrant experience presents the importance of gender and sexuality as identities in the migration process as the performance of these identities by migrant laborers allows them to be molded by the spaces they consume and, on the one hand, be active stakeholders that influence and manufacture the meanings of these spaces. Hence, being gay, homosexual, and migrant workers are fundamental roles in the flourishment of sexual identities, practices, and communities.

Protection against sexual violence in the workplace: NGO programs for access to justice for female migrant workers in Thailand

Title: Protection against sexual violence in the workplace: NGO programs for access to justice for female migrant workers in Thailand

Author: Miss Shah Bano

Year: 2019

Keywords: Sexual Violence Survivors, NGOs, Female Migrant Workers, Criminal Justice System

Theme: Gender

Advisor(s): Soravis Jayanama

The full thesis available here.

Abstract: Sexual violence in the workplace amongst female migrant worker is an under-discussed issue, due to lack of reporting, that needs to be explored in more detail. This paper examined the role of NGOs in providing protection to FMW who are survivors of sexual violence, in Thailand, who want to seek justice. This study used qualitative approach by interviewing 3 people from local NGOs and 3 people from international NGOs working in Thailand that provide services to FMW who have faced sexual violence, to deal with the culturally biased and highly patriarchal criminal justice system. The study shows that regardless of not having a specific project that focuses on providing protection to FMW who are survivors of sexual violence in the workplace with their access to justice, NGOs provide effective legal services to those FMW who visit the NGOs for help and support

Women political participation in Myanmar’s house of representatives

Title: Women political participation in Myanmar’s house of representatives

Author: Miss Thu Thu Swe

Year: 2018

Keywords: N/A

Theme: Gender

Advisor(s): Naruemon Thabchumpon

The full thesis available here.

Abstract: The thesis mainly discusses about main obstacles and challenges for women to participate in political activities in Myanmar including economic factor, social factor, political factor, and the ways how women are empowered to participate in political activities in Myanmar by using both primary and secondary data. The primary concept for this study is based on women empowerment processes which are included four different pathways in which women are changed –material (economy), perceptual (knowledge and skill), cognitive (self-confident and self-esteemed) and relational (bargaining power). Moreover, the thesis analyses actor’s roles in these four pathways. The thesis found out external factors namely economy, relgion, culture and tradition, verbal gender-discrimination and gender-violence as well as lack of gender-concept in policy and poltiical factor are obstacles and challenges for women. On the other hand, internal factors namely education, knowledge and skills and self-confident are not challenges for women to participate in poltiical activities. In order to empower women, there are four main actors in Myanmar: state (Ministry of Social Welfare, Union Election Commission), political parties, CSO/NGO/INGO and media for four pathways. It is observed that for four pathways, state and political parties takes cooperation and leading roles for economic (material pathway), knowledge and skills (cognitive pathway) and self-confident (perceptual pathway) of women empowerment with CSO/NGO/INGO sector. But state cannot do its cooperation and leading role very well like political parties. The thesis found out CSO/NGO/INGO can do a lot for women empowerment. Without support of CSO/NGO/INGO, state and political parties cannot do anything for material, cognitive and perceptual pathways. And for bargaining power (relational pathway), CSO/NGO/INGO does not have power to do. State and Political parties have power but in reality, state and political parties cannot do anything for bargaining power for women. For media sector, the thesis found out it can just support for improving knowledge for women.

A discourse analysis of LGBTI and homosexuality in the Thai secondary-level physical and health education textbooks

Title: A discourse analysis of LGBTI and homosexuality in the Thai secondary-level physical and health education textbooks

Author: Mr. Charoen Sutuktis

Year: 2018

Keywords: N/A

Theme: Gender

Advisor(s): Vong-on Phuaphansawat

The full thesis available here.

Abstract: Textbooks and national curriculum represent "official knowledge", or the set of ideas legitimised by the state and dominant groups in society. This legitimate knowledge constitutes the oppressive structure that fosters and manintains social inequalities and injustice. For LGBTI people, the unequal and unfair treatment that they experience in Thai society can be linked to what has been said about them-and gender and sexuality in general-in texbooks. Thia aims to examine how the physical & health education (PE) texbooks represent the image of LGBTI people and homosexuality by using the concepts of heteronormativity and gender neutrality. The research explores the content of all secondary-level PE textbooks that are available in the market, comprising a total of 36 textbooks. These textbooks are written by six publishers-one government entity (the ministry of education-MOE) and five private publishers. The researcher selected selected only the chapters that deal specifically with sexual development, sexual behaviours, family, and marriage. The analysis found, first, that the level of LGBTI coverage and level of heteronormativity varies among the six publishers. While some publishers are more progressive in the sense that they discusws LGBTI separately and include content on families of same-sex couples, others remain very conservative. For example, some publishers still discuss LGBTI as a 'deviant' behaviour that requires correction and repeatedly utilise words that exclude LGBTI and homosexual identifications, for example, Num-Sao, Por-Mae and opposite-sex. Second, despite some evidence of LGBTI inclusion and challenges to heteronormativity, the overall representation of LGBTI people and homosexuality still reinforces the image of these people as "the other". Moreover, LGBTI identily and homosexuality are constructed as a threat to "Thainess" and as a disadvantaged identity that represents an inferior position. Therefore, the analysis concludes that Thai PE textbooks still largely reinforce gender binary and heternonrmativity.

Social protection for urak lawoi traditional divers : A case study of two indigenous communities in Thailand

Title: Social protection for urak lawoi traditional divers : A case study of two indigenous communities in Thailand

Author: Panida Anujorbhand

Year: 2017

Keywords: N/A

Theme: Gender

Advisor(s): Pavika Sriratanaban

The full thesis available here.

Abstract: Being in the informal sector, local fishing communities in Thailand are often neglected by the Thai government. Social protection for informal sector is quite lacking especially for those who face various economic and social risks. The Urak Lawoi traditional divers are the case study in this research, not only because they belong in the informal sector, but also because several communities have been greatly affected by growing encroachment of the economic overdevelopment mainly by tourism and commercial fishery industries. The objective of this research is three-fold, that is, to understand the risks, to analyse existing social protection, and to recommend social protection that fills in the gap of needs and alleviates those risks. Through purposive sampling and in-depth interviews with the Urak Lawoi traditional divers in the Rawai beach and Sireh island communities and with relevant individuals, the researcher identifies the key risks that these divers are facing in terms of housing and accommodation; nature and environment; economics; health; social and political status. The conceptual framework of social risks is employed to both analyze existing social protection programmes available to the Urak Lawoi traditional divers and to suggest social protection to meet their needs. The findings of the research suggest that while there are some social protection programmes available to the members of the informal sector, including the traditional Urak Lawoi divers, these measures do not address various risks and vulnerabilities that these indigenous divers are facing. The research eventually provides recommendations for filling in the gaps of social protection for the sample cases of Urak Lawoi traditional divers at Rawai beach and Sireh Island communities.

Sisters, Boyfriends, and the Big City: Trans Entertainers and Sex Workers in Globalized Thailand

Title: Sisters, Boyfriends, and the Big City: Trans Entertainers and Sex Workers in Globalized Thailand

Author: Mr. Leo Bernardo Escalante Villar

Year: 2017

Keywords: LGBTIQ RIGHTS, SEX WORK, ENTERTAINMENT WORK, GLOBALIZATION, TRANSGENDER WOMAN, TOURISM

Theme: Gender

Advisor(s): Soravis Jayanama, advisor, Ratchada Jayagupta, co-advisor

The full thesis available here.

Abstract: As transgender issues penetrate mainstream human rights dialogue, most of the current understanding and research on this marginalized group revolve around the perspective of HIV/AIDS prevention and awareness. To add to the growing academic discourse on transgender women in the world of work, this research looks into the lives of transgender women sex workers and entertainers in the major cities of Bangkok and Pattaya in Thailand. The research uses a qualitative approach consisting of content analysis of relevant Thai policies and semi-structured interviews with 8 transgender women, a transgender-focused local NGO, and the management team of a prominent transgender cabaret theatre. Drawing its analysis from the concepts of homonormativity and homonationalism, the research explores the Thai state’s contradicting policies that affect transgender women. In particular, the study looks at the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s promotion and support of transgender cabaret performers, which is in contrast to the deep stigma and discrimination experienced by other transgender women, specifically transgender sex workers. In spite of what transgender cabaret performers may benefit from state support, this does not translate to equality for the broader transgender community in Thailand. Concluding this thesis, the study finds that some transgender women may be implicated in multiple political, economic, and socio-cultural structures and pushed to become commodified in order to gain rights. But despite the commodification of trans identity and culture, transgender women show their agency by resisting and challenging societal discrimination in their own ways

The role of technology in working women's empowerment : a case study of female Isaan workers in Bangkok

Title: The role of technology in working women's empowerment : a case study of female Isaan workers in Bangkok

Author: Andrew Vincent Clifford

Year: 2011

Keywords: EMPOWERMENT, WOMEN, ISAAN, ICT4D, CAPABILITIES,, MASLOW, DEVELOPMENT, THAILAND

Theme: Gender

Advisor(s): Pitch Pongsawat

The full thesis available here.

Abstract: The story of female Isaan workers in Bangkok is likely well known. Many of these women come from backgrounds of poverty and limited education, and migrate to Bangkok in search of better economic and potentially better social opportunities. The role that ICT plays in empowering these women may not be as well known. ICT has the ability to help these women acquire new skills and access knowledge previously unavailable to them. ICT further allows them to build and maintain social networks and to improve their self-confidence and outlook for the future. Using the framework of Sen’s Capabilities Approach, this study examines the expansion of capabilities and the achievement of new functionings for these women in a variety of areas, as seen through the personal narratives of these women. In spite of the many benefits of ICT4D, these women still face many obstacles in their development, particularly in the areas of formal education and with regards to family and work obligations. This paper examines these shortcomings, and provides recommendations for addressing them. Recommendations include the creation of new financial incentives to motivate these women to continue their education (including financial incentives for the employers of these women to provide them the time to needed to study) as well as recognized certifications (which are currently used in the technology field) that could be used in lieu of experience by these women when seeking new employment.

Cultural alienation and resistance : Srilankan women domestic workers in the Maldives

Title: Cultural alienation and resistance : Srilankan women domestic workers in the Maldives

Author: Aishath Noora Mohamed

Year: 2010

Keywords: N/A

Theme: Gender

Advisor(s): Supang Chantavanich, advisor, Hayes, Michael, co-advisor

The full thesis available here.

Abstract: My study focuses on analyzing how the foreign domestic workers in the Maldives resist the cultural alienation that they experience within their workplace and the society at large. The relatively large migrant worker population in the Maldives lives in an environment with heavy restrictions on their rights, limited mobility and limited physical space and privacy. Their vulnerability is emphasized by the limited legal protection, inadequate institutional support and limited voice of migrant workers in the media. The domestic workers work in households, and are often isolated and hidden from the view, making the group potentially an even more vulnerable group within the migrant workers. However, several studies on migrant workers had described their agency in finding ways to resist and respond to socially, culturally and politically restrictive situations. Through participatory fieldwork with Sri Lankan Singhalese domestic workers, I explore how they resist their cultural alienation by redefining their identities and through the use of social networks and by negotiating place and space. Findings support the foreign domestic workers in the Maldives are alienated through policies and practices that negates the control over their work situation. The community and household practices and views differentiate and subordinate the Sri Lankan domestic workers in relation to the Maldivians. The research shows the foreign domestic workers contest the dominant views of their limited and subordinate social space through different means, such as placing social boundaries that excludes other nationalities to create a sense of community for Sri Lankans, negotiating power within the household by acquiring and employing skills and knowledge and building social and emotional ties with members of the household. The social network within migrant workers also provides alternative means of gaining control of their lives in the Maldives. The research also highlights the multiple meanings of space for the Sri Lankan domestic worker, and how the utilization of public spaces and places becomes a key strategy for building alternative identities and resistance for migrant workers.

Women's empowerment in Bangkok urban poor areas

Title: Women's empowerment in Bangkok urban poor areas

Author: Kelsy Ann Cummings

Year: 2009

Keywords: WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT, URBAN POOR AREAS, NGOS

Theme: Gender

Advisor(s): Naruemon Thabchumpon, advisor

The full thesis available here.

Abstract: Women's empowerment is viewed as a crucial factor in supporting development at the family, community, and national levels. Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) worldwide and in Thailand frequently develop projects and activities that promote women's empowerment. This research has two main objectives: firstly, to study the success of the Duang Prateep Foundation, an NGO working in Bangkok, in empowering women in the urban poor community of Khlong Toei; and secondly, to examine how poor women define power and empowerment. This research employed a document review to assess currently available information and published documents, identify knowledge gaps on this issue, and define key conceptual frameworks. Following the document review, the findings indicate a lack of research on women's empowerment in urban poor areas of Thailand. This research aims to fill this gap. The researcher studied women's perspectives on "power" and empowerment, as well as the success of the Duang Prateep Foundation in empowering women. Interviews were conducted using questionnaires and in-depth interviews with seven women in the Khlong Toei urban poor community. These women had participated in activities and projects initiated by the Duang Prateep Foundation. After collecting and evaluating the data, the research found that the Duang Prateep Foundation's projects and activities contributed to the empowerment of the women who participated. However, this study does not present a new definition or perspective on the concepts of "power" and empowerment. Women's empowerment is viewed as a valid contributing factor for development at a household, community, and countrywide level. NGOs around the world and in Thailand often develop projects and activities to encourage women's empowerment. This study has two purposes. One is to determine if Duang Prateep Foundation (DPF), a Thai NGO in Bangkok is successful in empowering women in Khlong Toei Urban Poor Area; and the second is to determine how poor women define empowerment.The Literature Review was conducted with the aim of evaluating the current literature on the topic; to uncover a Knowledge Gap and to define Key Concepts. After a review of the current literature it was discovered that there is a lack of studies pertaining women's empowerment in Urban Poor Areas in Thailand. Thus, this study seeks to fill this gap. To determine how women view empowerment, and if DPF is successful in empowering women, a questionnaire was administered to seven women in Khlong Toei Urban Poor Area, who have been involved in activities and projects initiated by DPF. Questionnaires were administered with the aid of a Thai translator After an evaluation of the data, it was found that DPF's projects and activities generally increase empowerment for the women are involved with them. However, this study did not establish any new ways of defining empowermen

Gender development and women's status in Bangladesh

Title: Gender development and women's status in Bangladesh

Author: Iram Akhtar

Year: 2006

Keywords: N/A

Theme: Gender

Advisor(s): Pavika Sriratanaban

The full thesis available here.

Abstract: Bangladesh is a densely populated country with approximately 140 million people, the majority of whom are Muslim. 75% of the total population lives in rural areas, and half of that population are marginalized women, often facing low social status. Traditional customs heavily influence women's lifestyles, and poverty severely damages socio-economic development. This work highlights the empowerment of women and their influence on social development through the use of health as an indicator, emphasizing the impact of cultural exclusion in education, health, and socio-economic factors. Data collected over eight years, from 1995 to 2003, reveals changes in health status and women's empowerment in rural Bangladesh. Women are increasingly involved in manual labor and small-scale agricultural businesses, leading to shifts in male attitudes toward women. These changes impact women's roles in families and society. Various NGOs have assisted people in these areas with initiatives such as microcredit, education, health, sanitation, nutrition, and environmental issues. Government policies demonstrate positive actions and attitudes towards empowering citizens, improving health, and promoting development, as evidenced by increasing literacy rates. And the number of girls entering primary education has also increased. Changes have also occurred in women's health, as evidenced by declining maternal mortality rates and a decrease in fertility rates. Economically, there is an increase in the number of female wage earners and a decrease in the number of unpaid female workers. While there is general consideration of women's empowerment/decentralization, the rate of women's development remains slow. Cultural barriers and political instability further hinder this progress. Therefore, it is hoped that changes in women's living conditions will continue in the near future. Bangladesh is densely populated with a population of approximately 140 million. The majority of its population is Muslim. 75% of the population lives in the rural areas and half of the total population are women. Ignorance, low status, traditional inhibitions have influenced the life of women and poverty has been detrimental to socioeconomic development. The focus of this paper is the development of women and their status. Using social development indicators with emphasis on cultural barriers, education, health and socio-economic factors data was collected for a time series trend over a period of 8 years from 1995 to 2003. The data was then analyzed to see the changes in women's development and status in Bangladesh. Women's participation in the labor sector and small agricultural businesses in the rural areas has brought about a change in behavior and attitude of men towards women. These changes have made an impact on women's role in the family and society. Many NGOs have helped to influence women's lives, socially and economically. Major contributions by them have been in the areas of micro-credit, education, health, sanitation, nutrition and environmental issues. Government policies indicate positive attitude and commitment towards empowerment, health and development. There has been and increase in literacy rates, and an increase in girls primary school enrollment. Also, improvements in women's health were indicated by the decrease in maternal mortality ratio, and decrease in fertility rate. The economic indicators showed an increase in female paid labor force. In general, there has been considerable development of women. However, the rate of development for women is still very slow. Cultural barriers and political instability has slowed the progress of development for women. Nevertheless, the improvement evident are expected to continue in the near future.

Impact of micro-credit programs upon economic and social conditions of women in rural and urban communities in Myanmar

Title: Impact of micro-credit programs upon economic and social conditions of women in rural and urban communities in Myanmar

Author: May Si Si Aung

Year: 2005

Keywords: N/A

Theme: Gender

Advisor(s): Preecha Kuwinpant

The full thesis available here.

Abstract: The poverty situation is visible in around the developing countries. The issue of poverty has become a matter of grave concern of the NGOs and the donor agencies as well. The NGOs have been implementing a wide range of development activities with a major goal of alleviating poverty around low-income communities. Among them micro-credit and micro enterprise has become one of the important strategies to intervene reduce poverty and empower women. The objectives of this thesis are to examine members' perception on the micro-credit programs and the programs impact upon economic and social changes on household and communities. The research was done at the two NGOs: YWCA and PACT/MYANMAR implementation in two areas-urban and rural in Myanmar. In this study, the qualitative method was used primarily and mainly, but also qualitative method was used to visible the member's perception on the programs. Primary data was corrected for this research through 12 casestudies from in-depth household survey, field observation, and several interviewing and group discussions to the members of the programs and also non-members. A variety of secondary data and information are also used. The research observed members' perception on micro-credit programs was moderately satisfied by the majority of the PACT (rural) project members and half of the YWDP (urban) members are high in satisfied on the program performance. For the economic impact, the study findings most of the respondents from both micro-credit projects have high in uplifting of family economic condition in the factors namely household income, self-employment, and economic security. Improvement of the social well being of the household members by almost all findings is evident. Majority of two projects members have more or less increased social status among families and communities in terms of participation in community development activities, decision making, mobility, and self-confidence and skills. The research concluded that provision of micro-credit program was effective as evidenced to help low-income families to raise their socioeconomic status and protect themselves from economic setbacks. The programs constructed positive consequences on member to become empowered and that improved individual family standard. Giving women access to micro-credit loans therefore generates many effects that benefit multiple generations and support individual families to lift themselves out of poverty.