scholarly journals Strengthening access to finance for women-owned SMEs in developing countries

2015 ◽  
Vol 34 (7) ◽  
pp. 634-639 ◽  
Author(s):  
Syed Zamberi Ahmad ◽  
Afida Mastura Muhammad Arif
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Financial Services ◽  
High Growth ◽  
Growth Potential ◽  
Access To Finance ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Women’S Entrepreneurship ◽  
Development Agenda ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities ◽  
Women's Entrepreneurship

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to highlight key trends, challenges, and opportunities for advancing women’s entrepreneurship and increasing their access to finance. Design/methodology/approach – Due to their high-growth potential, women-owned SMEs in developing countries are of particular interest. The International Financial Corporation and McKinsey built a detailed database for micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises. The data derived from the readily available global data sets provide coverage of a large number of countries and national statistics. Findings – Since financing is an important means by which to pursue growth opportunities, addressing the specific needs of women entrepreneurs (WE) in accessing finance must be part of the development agenda. Practical implications – This paper offers valuable practical insights to policy makers to establish a supportive, enabling environment that will facilitate access to financial services for WE in their respective countries; lead efforts to identify, evaluate, and support the replication of successful models for expanding financial services to WE; and lead efforts to gather gender-disaggregated data on small-, and medium-sized enterprise finance in a coordinated fashion. Originality/value – The value of this paper is that it offers insightful information about key trends, challenges, and opportunities for advancing women’s entrepreneurship and increasing their access to finance.

Policies for supporting women entrepreneurs in developing countries: the case of Tanzania

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dina Modestus Nziku ◽  
Colette Henry
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Women Entrepreneurs ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Entrepreneurship Policy ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Cultural Setting ◽  
Women’S Entrepreneurship ◽  
Women's Entrepreneurship ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Unique Context

PurposeWhile the topic of women's entrepreneurship continues to grow in academic appeal, the policy aspect is one that has received limited scholarly attention, especially in the context of developing countries. To address this gap in scholarship, the purpose of this paper aims to critically explore women's entrepreneurship policy in Tanzania. The research question asks: How are policies designed to encourage and support entrepreneurship in Tanzania gendered, and how might such policies be (re)designed so that they are more relevant to women entrepreneurs in the Tanzanian context? The authors contribute to extant scholarship by: drawing attention to the particular context for women's entrepreneurship in Tanzania; identifying gender biases inherent in current entrepreneurship policies; offering some recommendations for policymakers and identifying areas worthy of future research attention in this area.Design/methodology/approachThe study builds on the Global Women's Enterprise Policy project. The authors apply an adapted reading guide technique to analyse and critique relevant entrepreneurship policy documents in Tanzania. The reading guide examines the category and type of document being analysed, key themes, content, language and imagery, as well as the key policy recommendations being offered and their relevance to women's entrepreneurship in Tanzania and the wider sub-Saharan African region. Completed reading guide templates are then coded and collated into an excel spreadsheet. Findings are discussed and critiqued within a regulative, normative and cultural-cognitive framework.FindingsThe study provides rich and valuable insights into the unique context for women's entrepreneurship in Tanzania, shedding new light on how women's entrepreneurship is supported in a particular region of sub-Saharan Africa. Findings reveal that while current policy acknowledges the important role women play in their communities, especially in terms of their contribution to labour, it is geared more towards small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) development than entrepreneurship; this is despite the fact that entrepreneurship is identified as a means to address sustainable development challenges (notably unemployment and poverty) and expand opportunities for socially disadvantaged groups, especially women. Existing policy is essentially “context neutral” and hence relatively ineffective; the gender focus is lacking and there is a failure to take account of the specific context in which Tanzanian women entrepreneurs have to operate. The authors argue for policies designed to support women's entrepreneurship to be formalised and contextualised in their specific geographical and cultural setting. The “institutional pillars” framework allows us to identify areas where contextualisation of women's entrepreneurship policies could be enhanced.Practical implicationsThe study implies that, to be effective, policies designed to support women's entrepreneurship need to be formalised and contextualised to their specific geographical and cultural setting. Some areas where this might be achieved are identified. Avenues for future research in this area are also suggested.Originality/valueThe value of the paper lies in its focus on Tanzania, and its critique of existing policies from a gender and institutional perspective. It also enhances understanding of the unique context in Tanzania for entrepreneurship.

What challenges and opportunities will lead to success?

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 631-634 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jorge Costa ◽  
Mónica Montenegro ◽  
João Gomes
Keyword(s):  
International Economic ◽  
Developing Countries ◽  
Content Analysis ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Theme Issue ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Income Sources ◽  
Tourist Flows ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities ◽  
Shed Light

Purpose This paper aims to introduce the papers in this issue and explain the pertinence of the strategic question. Design/methodology/approach A brief context for the strategic question is provided, as well as the issue alignment and a content analysis of the papers selected. Findings From the analysis of the papers selected for this theme issue, it becomes clear that tourism has become one of the major players in international economic, social and technological sectors, while representing one of the main income sources for developed and developing countries. Originality/value The papers selected for this issue shed light on an important problem: increasing tourist flows and overtourism at some world top destinations.

scholarly journals Women’s entrepreneurship policy: a 13 nation cross-country comparison

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 206-228 ◽  
Author(s):  
Colette Henry ◽  
Barbara Orser ◽  
Susan Coleman ◽  
Lene Foss
Keyword(s):  
Policy Development ◽  
Methodological Approach ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Entrepreneurship Policy ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Policy Practice ◽  
Women’S Entrepreneurship ◽  
The Status ◽  
Women's Entrepreneurship

Purpose Government attention to women’s entrepreneurship has increased in the past two decades; however, there are few cross-cultural studies to inform policy development. This paper aims to draw on gender and institutional theory to report on the status of female-focused small and medium-sized enterprises/entrepreneurship policies and to ask how – and to what extent – do women’s entrepreneurship policies differ among countries? Design/methodology/approach A common methodological approach is used to identify gaps in the policy-practice nexus. Findings The study highlights countries where policy is weak but practice is strong, and vice versa. Research limitations/implications The study’s data were restricted to policy documents and observations of practices and initiatives on the ground. Practical implications The findings have implications for policy makers in respect of support for women’s entrepreneurship. Recommendations for future research are advanced. Originality/value The paper contributes to extant knowledge and understanding about entrepreneurship policy, specifically in relation to women’s entrepreneurship. It is also one of the few studies to use a common methodological approach to explore and compare women’s entrepreneurship policies in 13 countries.

Women’s entrepreneurship and internationalization: patterns and trends

2018 ◽  
Vol 38 (9/10) ◽  
pp. 780-793 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vanessa Ratten ◽  
Kayhan Tajeddini
Keyword(s):  
Women Entrepreneurs ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Female Gender ◽  
Future Trends ◽  
Systematic Analysis ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Women’S Entrepreneurship ◽  
Women's Entrepreneurship ◽  
New Research

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to review the literature on women’s entrepreneurship and internationalization in order to build an understanding about future trends. There is increasing interest in the role of women in entrepreneurship yet little research has been conducted about the link to internationalization patterns. Design/methodology/approach The literature is reviewed based on a systematic analysis of the words women, female, gender and internationalization. Findings Three main schools of thought around women’s entrepreneurship and internationalization (philosophy, management and motivations) are then discussed. The analysis of literature and classification into main theories enables the building of new research around women’s entrepreneurship and internationalization. Originality/value There is a pipeline of women intending to become entrepreneurs so this paper helps to understand how women entrepreneurs influence internationalization patterns and how to help support women in their business endeavors.

scholarly journals The impact of social media on the performance of microfinance institutions in developing countries: a quantitative approach

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmad Daowd ◽  
Muhammad Mustafa Kamal ◽  
Tillal Eldabi ◽  
Ruaa Hasan ◽  
Farouk Missi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Developing Countries ◽  
Performance Indicators ◽  
Financial Services ◽  
Microfinance Institutions ◽  
Poverty Level ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Media Platform ◽  
Media Applications ◽  
The Impact

PurposeOver the last few decades, microfinance industry is argued to have played a constructive role in alleviating poverty level and providing the underprivileged with access to financial services. Statistics from the World Bank reveal that, currently, only 4% of the underprivileged have been served out of the 3 billion+ potential clients. Such results are due to several claims, particularly the operational and financial challenges faced by microfinance institutions (MFIs) in the constant flux inviting more attentions towards its performance. While explicit attention is given by many researchers towards mobile banking and information and communication technology (ICT) in improving the MFIs’ performance, the study on how social media, as a rapidly growing online phenomenon, can impact on the MFIs’ performance remains scarce. As such, this study aims to investigate this impact based on four dimensional performance indicators: efficiency, financial sustainability, portfolio quality and outreach.Design/methodology/approachA model is proposed and tested to ascertain the relationship between social media applications and organisational performance. In so doing, web-based questionnaires have been used to collect data from MFI employees in developing countries. Results reveal a significant influence of the social media over the MFIs’ performance, offering valuable insights into both researchers and practitioners in the domain of microfinance, as well as social media—conforming that the adoption of social media as marketing, advertising and communication tools may significantly improve the MFIs’ performance.FindingsThe results demonstrate that there is a positive and significant impact of social media use within microfinance on the key indicators of MFIs. They also show that the highest impact of social media usage within the microfinance is on the portfolio quality. In addition, it was found that marketing and advertising; communication and sales and distribution are the main areas where social media is able to support while social networking websites are the most popular platforms employed in MFIs.Originality/valueThis study adds to the existing literature few theoretical and practical aspects. First, this study developed a model for assessing the value of social media as a new phenomenon within this type of organisation. Second, it offers microfinance sponsors, managers and policy makers with a frame of reference to understand what social media platform can be deployed for each purpose. Third, with the identification of the main MFIs’ performance indicators, this research provided a reference of performance measurement guide for microfinance industry when assessing different technological employment.

Lifelong activism and women’s entrepreneurship: how a social movement organization improves conditions for self-employed women in India

2020 ◽  
Vol 32 (5) ◽  
pp. 937-958 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Colovic ◽  
Sonia Mehrotra
Keyword(s):  
Social Movement ◽  
Trade Union ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Main Role ◽  
Longitudinal Case Study ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Women’S Entrepreneurship ◽  
Movement Organization ◽  
Women's Entrepreneurship

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate how a local trade union improves living conditions for women entrepreneurs in India and how its activities have evolved over time. Design/methodology/approach The authors conducted a longitudinal case study of the self-employed women’s association (SEWA) in India. Founded in 1972, this organization fosters and supports women’s entrepreneurship. The approach of this study combines qualitative face-to-face interviews and secondary data analysis. Findings The findings highlight the fact that SEWA, which combines the features of a trade union and a social movement, improves women’s conditions in several different ways. The study shows that the organization’s main role has evolved from creating a community to expanding it and finally to becoming an agent of societal change. Originality/value The study contributes to the literature by analyzing how locally grown organizations fight social exclusion and improve the conditions of deprived groups in emerging economies.

scholarly journals Financial Access and Business Performance of Urban Unorganised Sector Enterprises: A Study of Assam in Northeast India

2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 119-147
Author(s):  
Prasenjit Bujar Baruah ◽  
M. P. Bezbaruah
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Financial Performance ◽  
Financial Services ◽  
Business Performance ◽  
Northeast India ◽  
Access To Finance ◽  
Financial Access ◽  
Logit Regression ◽  
Indian State ◽  
Dominant Characteristic

The urban unorganised sector has been a dominant characteristic feature of the developing countries providing livelihood to a disproportionately large number of households for prolonged period. However, enterprises in this sector are often stunted by myriads of problems among which meagre access to formal financial services is a crucial constraint, as access to other enabling conditions often hinges upon access to finance. This article is based on a study of such enterprises in the Northeast Indian state of Assam, where access to finance is relatively limited in general. Using inputs from a customised survey, the article explores the extent to which the accessibility of financial services influences the growth and financial performance of the unorganised sector enterprises in Assam. Tools employed include a customised financial access index, a generalised linear model and an ordered LOGIT regression. The results show that the financial performance of the enterprises is not significantly associated with the extent of their financial access, but their growth is critically dependent on it.

Gender perspectives on university education and entrepreneurship

2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 254-271 ◽  
Author(s):  
Silke Tegtmeier ◽  
Jay Mitra
Keyword(s):  
University Education ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Specific Reference ◽  
Female Entrepreneurship ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Research Engagement ◽  
Women’S Entrepreneurship ◽  
Introductory Article ◽  
Women's Entrepreneurship ◽  
New Research

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to direct attention to recent research on women’s entrepreneurship with a focus on university education. A literature review and a summary of authors’ selected papers provide both a context for and an introduction to the articles in this special issue. Design/methodology/approach – This introduction provides an overview of the literature on female entrepreneurship with specific reference to the context of university education. Searches on Web of Science and in this journal were conducted to provide a systematic overview of the area of research. This introductory article ends with a set of propositions for future research engagement. Findings – This paper finds that the quantum of past research endeavours remains limited despite the growing significance of the subject. This paper also finds that developing a focused approach that is based on a female ontology of entrepreneurship, and one that identifies specific contexts, and appropriate methodological considerations that enable enquiry at different levels, are of value to future research. This paper offers four different propositions that address key areas or fields of entrepreneurship research. Research limitations/implications – This paper provides a unique set of propositions together with a framework which helps to both explore new knowledge creation and locate new research within the main fields of entrepreneurship while providing room for extending those fields. Practical implications – This overview provides a framework for universities and policymakers to enable them to take into consideration the critical issues of entrepreneurship in general, and female entrepreneurship in particular, when developing programmes and tools for university education. Originality/value – This paper provides a summary of the trends in research on women’s entrepreneurship with reference to university education. This leads to the development of a set of propositions and a framework for identifying and exploring new research questions that need to be addressed to close important research gaps in the field of entrepreneurship.

Women’s entrepreneurship in Russia: impacts from the Soviet system

2016 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 53-69 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ann-Mari Sätre
Keyword(s):  
Empirical Data ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Analytical Framework ◽  
Small Towns ◽  
Field Trips ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Legal Rules ◽  
Women’S Entrepreneurship ◽  
Soviet Time ◽  
Women's Entrepreneurship

Purpose – This paper aims to analyze how surviving norms from the Soviet time continue to shape women’s entrepreneurship in contemporary Russia. Design/methodology/approach – The empirical data are based on observations and qualitative interviews in two Russian regions in 2002-2014 and also to a part on a survey from one of the regions. The analytical framework is based on Douglass North’s (1990) categorization of four main kinds of institutions which influence the way a society develops: legal rules, organization forms, enforcement and behavioural norms. Findings – The analysis shows that it is important to incorporate norms connected to women’s societal roles to the institutional theory. The survival of norms might in fact imply that women’s entrepreneurship tends to conserve the ways the system works, rather than to contributing to changing it. Although the survival of such norms tends to prevent changes, the possibility to start private businesses, on the other hand, opened up new ways for women to fulfill their different societal responsibilities. Originality/value – The paper is based on unique empirical data including some 200 interviews and observations from regular field trips to villages and small towns in Russia since the early 2000s.

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