ASSESSMENT OF ACCOUNTING RECORDS OF RURAL WOMEN SELF-HELP GROUP IN ETHIOPIA CASE STUDY OF WOLAITA ZONE, SODO ZURIA WOREDA

The study was focus on the assessment of accounting record of rural women shelf help group in case of Ethiopia especially in SodoZuriaworeda. The researcher used descriptive research design to describe the existing situations of Women shelf help group. Both primary and secondary data was employed to collect data from members in the study area. Primary data was collected through questionnaires, interview and observation. Open ended and five liker scale questionnaire was prepared in English and translated to local language. The total populations of the study were 4 kebeles and 480 women shelf help group members. From the total population, the .researcher purposively select 2 kebeles from 4 kebeles by considering recent activities of the group and year of establishment.Accordinglyrandomly select 100 women shelf help group members from the total populations. The researcher used both qualitative and quantitative research approach to analyze data. All the data were collected from the members on the weekly meeting day of the group. The study reveals that rural women shelf help groups were not fully record all accounting events by using source documents and vouchers. The capacities of the recorders are not enough to record and reconcile all the accounting transaction for the group. Some of the basic accounting transactions were not fully recorded by the members and their groups. Group Income Generating Activities (IGAs) income and expense was not assessed and recognize accurately. The researcher conclude that, Rural women shelf help group members and recorders should record all accounting transactions and events by using flip, vouchers and register book immediately. Updating of accounting record is needed for rural women shelf help group to take loan from other institution or to link with other financial institutions. Government, especially cooperative office, universities and donors should encourage, support and provide different capacity building training for women shelf help group members.