Women's small and medium enterprises for poverty alleviation in Sub‐Saharan Africa

Author:

Siringi E.M.

Abstract

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to focus on women small and medium enterprises (WSMEs) financed by Kenya Women Finance Trust (KWFT) for poverty alleviation in Kakamega District‐Kenya.Design/methodology/approachThe study utilized cross‐sectional data from KWFT and follow‐up field survey data of women beneficiaries of KWFT credit. Multi‐stage stratified sampling technique was adopted to identify 90 women entrepreneurs of the total population of 300. Primary data were gathered using structured and non‐structured questionnaires, interview schedules and focus group discussions. The study adopts both qualitative and quantitative data analysis.FindingsKWFT micro credit has had a positive impact upon women entrepreneurs on income savings, asset creation and their general social welfare. However, the KWFT's fight against poverty is constrained by socio‐culture and other institutional policy issues such as: right to own property, right to education, own land, manage and inherit property, conduct business, among others.Practical implicationsWomen have shown that they are strong entrepreneurs, borrowers and change agents through WSMEs. Government of Kenya should urgently adopt a gender policy to address socio‐culture issues constraining WSMEs. Further, KWFT should avoid cumbersome loan procedures but rather provide quick and convenient access to credit for women entrepreneurs, simple product offerings, with some flexibility to boost fight against poverty.Originality/valueLinking women entrepreneurship in the context of overall fight against poverty in Western Region in Kenya through KWFT; provide opportunity to add knowledge to current literature critical for academia and women entrepreneurship policy in Kenya in particular, as well as Sub‐Saharan African region.

Publisher

Emerald

Subject

General Business, Management and Accounting

Reference43 articles.

1. Bear, M., Gibson, A. and Hitchins, R. (2003), “From principles to practice: ten critical challenges for BDS market development”, Small Enterprise Development, Vol. 14 No. 4, pp. 10‐24.

2. Blackden, M. and Bhanu, C. (2004), Gender Growth and Poverty Reduction – Special Programme of Assistance for Africa, World Bank, Washington, DC.

3. Gillis et al. (1987), Analysis of Micro Finance Inadequacy in Sub Saharan Africa, UNDP, New York, NY.

4. Gordon, M., Jeffrey, D.S. and Wing, T.W. (2005), “Understanding African poverty: beyond the Washington consensus to the millennium development goals approach”, in Jan, J.T. and Age, A. (Eds), Africa in the World Economy: The National, Regional and International Challenges, FONDAD, The Hague, p. 243, available at: www.fondad.org/publications/africaworld/Fondad‐AfricaWorld‐NairobiChapter2.pdf.

5. Government of Kenya (1965), African Socialism and its Application to Planning in Kenya, Sessional Paper No. 10, The Government Printers, Nairobi.

Cited by 14 articles. 订阅此论文施引文献 订阅此论文施引文献,注册后可以免费订阅5篇论文的施引文献,订阅后可以查看论文全部施引文献

同舟云学术

1.学者识别学者识别

2.学术分析学术分析

3.人才评估人才评估

"同舟云学术"是以全球学者为主线,采集、加工和组织学术论文而形成的新型学术文献查询和分析系统,可以对全球学者进行文献检索和人才价值评估。用户可以通过关注某些学科领域的顶尖人物而持续追踪该领域的学科进展和研究前沿。经过近期的数据扩容,当前同舟云学术共收录了国内外主流学术期刊6万余种,收集的期刊论文及会议论文总量共计约1.5亿篇,并以每天添加12000余篇中外论文的速度递增。我们也可以为用户提供个性化、定制化的学者数据。欢迎来电咨询!咨询电话:010-8811{复制后删除}0370

www.globalauthorid.com

TOP

Copyright © 2019-2024 北京同舟云网络信息技术有限公司
京公网安备11010802033243号  京ICP备18003416号-3