Journal of Co-operative and Business Studies (JCBS) https://journals.mocu.ac.tz/index.php/jcbs <p align="justify">The Journal of cooperative and Business Studies (JCBS) is one of the bi-annual journals of the Moshi Cooperative University (MoCU) publishing articles in the area of co-operative development and business management. The articles include research works, book reviews, book chapters, article reviews, and case studies. Publishable articles focus on the co-operative theory, practical experiences, and policy issues related to cooperative development and business management. It is a peer-reviewed journal with a special focus on the associative economy of economically active low-income producers, distributors, and consumers.</p> Moshi Co-operative University en-US Journal of Co-operative and Business Studies (JCBS) 0856-9037 Contribution of Evangelical Lutheran Church on financial performance of Uchumi Commercial Bank in Tanzania https://journals.mocu.ac.tz/index.php/jcbs/article/view/428 <p>Despite the government's efforts to help community banks (CBs) by giving them preferential treatment, including minimal registration start-up capital, these banks have struggled to attain superior performance. Using a quantitative research approach, this paper assessed the contribution of Lutheran Church parishes to the financial performance of Uchumi Commercial Bank (UCB), one of the community banks in Tanzania. A cross-sectional research design was used with a systematic sampling technique applied to 223 respondents. A survey questionnaire and interviews were used to collect quantitative data. Data were analyzed through descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression techniques. Parish savings, saving rate, parish non-performing loans, and shares owned by the parish were factors concluded to positively influence the bank's financial performance. Meanwhile, loans to parishes and loan repayments negatively influence performance. Additionally, the fear of losing collateral influences parishes to repay their loans, thus adversely affecting UCB bank's financial performance in terms of loan default. The study recommends that the Lutheran Church should set policies to ensure an increased level of parishes' savings, loans, and share capital to enhance the church's contribution to UCB financial performance.</p> Anita J. Mnkeni Damian B. Sambuo Fautine Panga Copyright (c) 2024 Anita J., Damian B., Fautine P. 2024-12-31 2024-12-31 8 2 1 21 10.2023/jcbs.v8i2.428 Empowering Tanzanian Women: The Moderating Role of Awareness on Stock Market Participation https://journals.mocu.ac.tz/index.php/jcbs/article/view/427 <p><em>Women are identified as having limited investment opportunities associated with different social, economic and awareness factors. Stock markets such as the Dar es Salaam Stock Exchange (DSE) facilitate women’s ownership of the key sectors of the economy through share ownership. Thus, this paper seeks to examine the moderating role of awareness in empowering women through participation in the DSE. The study involved women who are direct participants in DSE located in the Dar es Salaam region. Multi-stage sampling was applied, and quantitative data collected were analysed using a Multiple regression model. The findings show that women who are employees increase investment size and trading frequency due to increased awareness of DSE activities. Similarly, high income, age and high level of education positively affect women’s investment size and trading frequency of shares in DSE. Therefore, awareness increases knowledge of investment opportunities for women, leading to high investment in DSE. Also, working age and high education level increase women’s knowledge of investment, hence improving investment size and trading frequency in DSE. Thus, the DSE and Capital Market and Securities Authority should increase awareness creation seminars among women to promote financial independence. Apart from that, investment studies should be incorporated into different secondary education syllabi to instill investment knowledge.&nbsp; </em></p> Christina A. Mwakabumbe Copyright (c) 2024 Christina A. 2024-12-31 2024-12-31 8 2 1 19 10.2023/jcbs.v8i2.427