Title: The impact of women's economic empowerment on the rise of female entrepreneurship and human capital in South Africa

Authors: Vito Bobek; Andrea Schachl; Tatjana Horvat

Addresses: Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia ' University of Applied Sciences FH Joanneum, Graz, Austria ' Faculty of Management, University of Primorska, Koper, Slovenia

Abstract: The authors investigated the importance of women's economic empowerment and its impact on the rise of female entrepreneurship and human capital in South Africa. The research included a case study analysis with four in-depth expert interviews. Data triangulation ensured the study's validity, and the case was examined through pattern matching. The results demonstrate that female entrepreneurs face challenges such as access to resources and education, socio-cultural norms, a lack of social protection and a large and unprotected informal sector. The government and institutions shall promote women's enablement through a direct labour market intervention, support for the informal sector, a gender-sensitive constitutional, legal and institutional framework, the enforcement and oversight of gender-responsive laws and policies and access to resources and education. Furthermore, women require digital inclusion, entrepreneur networks, social protection and reformed socio-cultural norms. If female entrepreneurs are empowered adequately, they would contribute to nations' human capital, economic growth and development.

Keywords: women's economic empowerment; women entrepreneurship; self-employed females; female labour force participation; gender equality; gender-responsive policies and initiatives; female entrepreneurs in South Africa; human capital.

DOI: 10.1504/IJDIPE.2023.128803

International Journal of Diplomacy and Economy, 2023 Vol.9 No.1, pp.23 - 56

Received: 21 Jul 2022
Accepted: 22 Aug 2022
Published online: 06 Feb 2023 *