Jobs Gender And Small Enterprises In Africa

Reviews the existing literature on women's participation in microenterprises in the informal economy. Identifies economic and socio-cultural factors that limit women's participation in enterprise development. Suggests key areas for further research.

Extrait de la préface : "This SEED working paper [...] is quite unique in so far it is a synthesis of reports prepared for four separate countries, selected as being in some way representative of different socio-cultural, education, legal and political conditions where women are involved in micro-entrepreneurship in the developing world. [...] While the main purpose of the report is to look at the situation of women entrepreneurs in those four countries [Tunisia, Zimbabwe, Bangladesh, and the Philippines], comparisons are also made between female and male entrepreneurs and this presents us with a very interesting and informative findings [...]. It is not sufficient to say that women entrepreneurs are disadvnatages, if in fact all micro and small scale entrepreneurs face problems. However, it becomes much more significant if we can point to barriers, problems and disadvantages experienced by women, that men do not have to experience, or at least not to the same degree. We find that male entrepreneurs are four-times more likely to be members of employers' organizations, chambers of commerce and small entreprise associations. The ILO is concerned about the quality and the quantity of jobs for women and men within small-scale enterprises. It is also concerned about the extent to which workers [...] are able to express their voice through associations and various decision-making fore. If women entrepreneurs are somehow "excluded" from representative associations of employers, then there is much that the ILO can and should do to rectify this situation."

"This report provides a synthesis of the findings from the Jobs, Gender and Small Enterprises in Africa-- a Study on Women's Enterprise Development (the WED Study), which was carried out in Ethiopia, Tanzania and Zambia through 2002. This was an action research project and funded as part of Ireland Aid's Partnership Programme with the International Labour Organization (ILO) and its InFocus Programme on Boosting Employment through Small Enterprises Development (IFP/ SEED). The study was directed by Gerry Finnegan from the Women's Entrepreneurship Development and Gender in Enterprise (WEDGE) Team within SEED and undertaken by a partnership of three nationally-based research groups-- Julé Development Associates International (JUDAI) Consultants in Zambia, Zewde and Associates PLC in Ethiopia and the University of Dar Es Salaam's Entrepreneurship Centre (UDEC) in Tanzania together with two international consultants Dr. Pat Richardson and Rhona Howarth from the UK"--P. ix.

Covers the background information to the ILO-African Development Bank country-level studies on the subject and presents the findings and recommendations resulting from the application of the analytical integrated framework in the three countries.

Presents the outcome of discussions at a national conference in Addis Ababa on 19 November on field research carried out involving 123 women of Addis Ababa, Awassa, Bahir Dar, Dire Dawa, Mekelle, and Nazareth. Describes the types of enterprises and experiences made, obstacles encountered in procuring financial resources, role of Business Support Services (BDS), etc. Appends the questionnaire used in the interviews, and a list of persons contacted.

According to a 2018 World Bank report, Africa is the only region with more women than men choosing to become entrepreneurs – a phenomenon that is not the subject of adequate discussion. This book reveals the latest research-based understanding of the entrepreneurial activities of women in sub-Saharan Africa. Specially invited subject experts present salient dimensions of entrepreneurship by African women, from environmental factors to motivations and influencers as well as financial and non-financial constraints, and highlight the significant role of cultural differences. This book provides a mixture of theoretical, conceptual, and empirical research, and fills the knowledge gap by presenting a wide range of opportunities and challenges faced by sub-Saharan African women entrepreneurs. This book will help policy makers and academic researchers in understanding the role of institutions and entrepreneurship policy in building a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem in the region.

The first volume focuses on globalization, international migration, employment, labour agency, technological change, and labour resilience. This book aims to examine how labour institutions, both in developed and developing countries, have responded to the challenges faced over the last 30 years. It will be relevant to students and researchers interested in labour economics, political economy, and development economics.