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Excited to share our publication "Towards Inclusive Entrepreneurship: Addressing Constraining and Contributing Factors for Women Entrepreneurs in South Africa," now available in Administrative Sciences. A heartfelt thank you to my colleagues Cecile Schultz and Mphoreng Magdeline Mmako for their invaluable collaboration. Our study highlights the pivotal role of women entrepreneurs in South Africa's economy and the challenges they face, including financial exclusion and societal norms. We propose actionable recommendations to enhance institutional support and create a more inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem. Read our insights and recommendations: https://lnkd.in/dzxYKE5Q #Entrepreneurship #EconomicGrowth #WomenInBusiness

Federation of Women Entrepreneurs Kenya (FOWEK)-the #COMFWB_Kenya_Chapter explores new partnerships with #KEPSA - #Kenya_Private_Sector_Alliance ------------- 🌍 🇰🇪 Nairobi, KENYA – In a move that promises to 💪 empower women entrepreneurs and boost the Kenyan economy, the Federation of Women Entrepreneurs Kenya (FOWEK)- the #COMFWB_Kenya_Chapter recently met with representatives from #KEPSA -#Kenya_Private_Sector_Alliance to discuss potential partnerships ✅ 👉📌 One of the key areas of focus was the #JIINUE_GROWTH_PROGRAM, an innovative initiative aimed at supporting micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), particularly those led by women and youth. The program offers both financial assistance and technical support, creating a nurturing environment for small businesses to flourish ✅ 👉📌 With the ambitious goal of reaching thousands of microenterprises and generating employment opportunities for young people across Kenya, the #JIINUE_GROWTH_PROGRAM is poised to revolutionize the entrepreneurial landscape ✅ 👉📌 The #COMFWB_Kenya_Chapter is thrilled about the prospects of this partnership, which could significantly benefit women entrepreneurs and MSMEs in the country. By working together, #COMFWB and #KEPSA can leverage their strengths to create a more inclusive and prosperous business environment for all ✅ #PartnershipForGrowth #WomenEntrepreneurs #MSMEEmpowerment #KEPSA

{WATCH} Financing 101 | Entrepreneurship is a vital part of South Africa’s business world, with small businesses providing essential employment opportunities and providing millions of people with viable livelihoods. For a number of reasons, including the fact that women have been found to reinvest more of their income into the health and education of their children and the community, women entrepreneurs need to be supported in achieving their goals. The latest Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) Women’s Entrepreneurship Report also found that women in countries like South Africa are among the most innovative and high growth entrepreneurs in the world. Despite the immense value that women entrepreneurs offer South African society at large, there is a US$42 billion gender funding gap that exists in sub-Saharan Africa, according to The Mastercard Index of Women Entrepreneurs. For this status quo to change, women need to be more resolute in their efforts to access funding, and to explore funding avenues that can meet their unique needs and are aligned to their businesses. At the back of International Women’s Day celebrated recently, these are 4 sources of financing for women entrepreneurs to consider: #BusinessFunding #Financing #WomenEntrepreneurs #WeAreBusinessPartners 🔶

Female entrepreneurship in rural areas is a fundamental pillar for the economic and social development of these regions. In this context, we initiated the Promoting on women social entrepreneurship environments (PoWER) project, dedicated to the promotion of female entrepreneurship in rural areas, which is a key initiative to foster equal opportunities, enhance innovation and contribute to sustainable growth. The project is supported by a consortium of members from several countries: Spain, Greece, Turkey, Malta and Cyprus. Follow us for more news about our activities! #femaleentrepreneurship #socialinnovation #womenempowerment #ErasmusPlus #PoWER

Challenges Ghanaian Female Entrepreneurs Face in Doing Business in Ghana

🚨SA government x Women entrepreneurs The newly elected South African government has outlined several plans to support women entrepreneurs. These plans include increasing funding and financial support through grants and loans tailored for women-owned businesses. They aim to expand training and development programs to enhance the skills and capabilities of women entrepreneurs. Additionally, they plan to improve access to both local and international markets by creating more opportunities and reducing barriers. Simplifying regulatory processes to make it easier for women to start and run businesses is also a priority. The government intends to bolster mentorship and networking programs to connect women entrepreneurs with experienced mentors and peers. There will be a continued focus on sector-specific support, particularly in high-growth areas like technology and agriculture. Finally, the government plans to ensure that public procurement policies favor women-owned businesses, increasing their participation in government contracts. #ScaleUpWomenSummit

At YBI, we’re committed to fostering inclusive entrepreneurship globally. In 2023, we wrapped up eight Futuremakers projects across Africa, Asia, and Europe, funded by Standard Chartered Foundation. These projects supported more than 17,000 young entrepreneurs, including over 10,000 women. Read our Impact Report 2023 and find out how we are empowering young women entrepreneurs to succeed: https://lnkd.in/enXGhyRr

🔎 Updating our Ukrainian Female Entrepreneur Portrait study in 2024: we see an increase in the percentage of women who face stereotypes within entrepreneurial activity. This trend may be partly connected with the war, as it forces women to expand their activities into areas that were considered typically "male". The main stereotypes faced by female entrepreneurs in 2024 are the following: ▫️ Business is not for women — 30% ▫️ Women's business is something not serious and short-term — 17% ▫️ Men are the best entrepreneurs — 16% Women entrepreneurs also answered what they lack in order to start their own business: ▫️ Resources, especially financial — 25% ▫️ Experience and knowledge — 18% ▫️ Informational support — 13% Access to financing is the main source of concern for many Ukrainian women entrepreneurs (state support, available loans, tax reduction, grants, etc.). 🇪🇺 There is also an increase in exports to European Union countries, which is partly due to European integration processes that have simplified the access of Ukrainian producers to the EU market. 🇬🇧 Ukrainian women entrepreneurs are exploring the UK market, which may be caused by the simplified market access system within the framework of The Political, Free Trade and Strategic Partnership Agreement between Ukraine and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (the Agreement), which entered into force on 1 January 2021. 🙌 I would like to highlight a very cool initiative for support female entrepreneurs in the UK — Invest in Women Hub. Invest in Women Hub committed to breaking down the barriers that women face when starting, growing or scaling a business. It is the go-to destination for women seeking to raise capital. The Hub is run by the Council for Investing in Female Entrepreneurs, a voluntary collective established to encourage and support women in business. The Council was set up in 2019 following the first Rose Review of Female Entrepreneurship led by Alison Rose, CEO of NatWest Group. 💰 The first The Rose Review report found that a lack of funding was one of the most significant barriers women faced when looking to scale a business. The Invest in Women Hub has been created to support more women to start and build thriving businesses, and meet the Review’s objective of doubling the number of female entrepreneurs in the UK by 2030. 🔗 Read more about the Council and how the idea for the Hub came about >> https://lnkd.in/ebNsGbET #FemaleEntrepreneurs #WomenInBusiness #WomenOwners #Funding

South African women are not just participating in entrepreneurship; they’re leading the charge “Despite the many challenges they face, they get up and back themselves to ‘bring home the bacon.’ Next to Nigeria, we stand shoulders above the rest with high numbers of females identifying as entrepreneurs.” With 61% of women in South Africa identifying as entrepreneurs, the data reflects a dynamic and flourishing environment where women are taking the reins and making impactful strides. But it’s not just about starting businesses—it’s about resilience, authenticity, and lifting each other up. “As women, we need to keep making a difference, no matter how insignificant we think it is because when that impact is replicated, women will change the world.” The future of entrepreneurship is female, and South Africa is leading the way! Read the full article below: https://lnkd.in/dy_2imwC

One Christmas present came early this year: one of my PhD articles has finally been published in the book ‘De Gruyter Handbook of Women Entrepreneurs in Emerging Economies’! Many researchers and practitioners tend to look at African women entrepreneurs from an individual micro-perspective, based on a Northern neoliberal lens. As if women entrepreneurs operate in a gender-neutral vacuum. By paying particular attention to the specific context in which Kenyan agri-business women build and fall back on personal networks, our chapter shows that entrepreneurship is formed in gendered spaces, shaping how women entrepreneurs in Kenya operate and grow their businesses. A big thanks to my co-authors Griet Steel, Janwillem Liebrand and Annelies (E.B.) Zoomers and to Helle Neergaard, Maribel Guerrero and Dr. Breda Kenny Sheehan for editing the book. Happy reading! https://lnkd.in/eSb7jcAh