The Impacts of Micro Credits on Crisis Management in Iran: A Case Study of Rural Women Credit Fund in Poshtroud Village of Bam County

In this study the role of micro credits was examined on the phase of rehabilitating the impacts of crisis during three years after 2003 earthquake in Bam county. The study used survey technique and deep interview. The research findings indicated that disbursed micro credits to rural women reduced the financial risks of households, and the presence of women in the form of volunteer groups made this micro lending network a center for women gathering, exchange of views, and sympathy, and therefore, resulted in rehabilitation of the neighborhood and social networks which had been destroyed after the earthquake. The following independent variables could explain 62% of the variance in the feeling of hope as dependent variable which has an important role in psychological rehabilitation: participatory spirit, social trust, the promotion of women status, the feeling of satisfaction, and feeling of powerlessness. Among the independent variables the feeling of powerlessness had the most important effect on the feeling of hope.