The Cameroonian economy is currently faced with the objective of fighting poverty. Poverty as defined is the insatisfaction of access to resources, the gender integration approach which is presented here like an example or an instrument to fight against poverty. The study titled “Analyzing women access to financial services by Microfinance Institution of the A3C Network” had as the major objective to analyse the accessibility of financial services by women. The study was also to examine the financial needs of women; the various services offered by the institution as well as the socio-economic factors that limit women access to financial services. The study was carried out from March to September 2012. Data on the financial services offered by A3C Network, as well as the socioeconomic characteristics of respondents were obtained with the aid of well structured pretested questionnaires. Results obtained showed that A3C Network as Microfinance Institution offers five financials services to its members. Further results showed that 31.29% women obtain credit to finance their business, 21.56% for agriculture while 7.22% obtain credit to pay children’s school fees. The study also showed that 32% of respondents have never received training on credit activities. Further analysis showed a significant difference of credit demand and received, savings between members of A3C and non members. Also low level of education, lack of access to and control of productive resources, lack of collaterals were some factors identify as limiting women access. Despite the efforts made to enhance the accessibility of women to the financial services of Network of the Microfinance Institution A3C, women continue to be influenced by their family responsibilities and their fragile nature which contributes to and limit their access to financial services. It could therefore be recommended that actors on accessibility of women to financial services adapt their services to meet socio economic and cultural needs of women aiming at ameliorating livelihood.
Keywords : Microfinance ; Financial services ; Microfinance Institutions ; Credit and Gender