Title: A gender analysis of micro-entrepreneurship in developing-transition countries: insights from Botswana

Authors: Daniel Mmereki; Alice Hovorka; Thando Gwebu

Addresses: Department for Management of Science and Technology Development, and Faculty of Environment and Labour Safety, Ton Duc Thang University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam ' School of Environmental Studies and Department of Geography, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, K7L 3N6, Canada ' Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Botswana, Private Bag UB 00704, Gaborone, Botswana

Abstract: Policy-makers and members of the donor community have acknowledged the importance of micro-enterprises to livelihoods in developing countries. Their contribution to household income is significant to the extent that in some developing countries it exceeds that of the formal sector. However, the dearth of information regarding the ways in which male-owned and female-owned micro-enterprises grow and change over time is becoming a major academic and policy concern. Using Botswana as the case study country, this paper presents a qualitative analysis of microenterprises in developing countries, using data collected on issues of source of start-up capital, perceived growth, and the dynamics of household decision making in the informal sector. A number of challenges were identified including inadequacy of policy support on micro-enterprises, the gap between male and female-owned entrepreneurs in terms of perceived growth of their operational units and inadequacy of programs for start-up of micro-enterprises. Comparatively, female-owned micro-enterprises were faced with a myriad of more challenges than male-owned micro-enterprises. The outputs are particularly useful to support decision makers, and focus on enhancing empowerment and awareness on available support programs to female entrepreneurs for employment creation in specific locations.

Keywords: male-owned micro-enterprise; female-owned micro-enterprises; growth rate; performance; policy support; Botswana.

DOI: 10.1504/IJESB.2020.104986

International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, 2020 Vol.39 No.3, pp.395 - 429

Received: 20 Nov 2017
Accepted: 01 Apr 2018
Published online: 10 Feb 2020 *

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