Yemeni Women's Use of Mobile Money Technology and Its Relation with Economic Empowerment to Achieve Sustainable Development (Case Study of Yemeni Women in Alamana Sana’a)

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the relationship between Yemeni women's use of mobile money technology and their economic empowerment, as well as achieving sustainable development goals in Yemen. To achieve the study objectives, a descriptive analytical methodology was employed. A survey was designed and distributed to (646) Yemeni women users and non-users of mobile financial technology services to collect data. Descriptive analysis and structural equation modeling (SEM) were then used to analyze the data and test the study model and hypotheses.

The findings indicated that Yemeni women's utilization of mobile money services explains (59%) of the variance in their economic empowerment and (28%) of variance in sustainable development. Economic empowerment alone explained (52%) of sustainable development variance. Together, the two variables (mobile money use and empowerment) account for (40%) of sustainable development variance. The study also revealed that Yemeni women's economic empowerment has the strongest influence on achieving sustainability. Finally, it was concluded that economic empowerment partially mediates the relationship between mobile money use and sustainable development.

The study recommends emphasizing and promoting Yemeni women's employment of mobile financial services as well as supporting economic empowerment programs to contribute to sustainable development achievement.