Women Entrepreneurship Through the COVID-19 Pandemic and Beyond

Abstract

The chapter investigated the COVID-19-induced challenges faced by women entrepreneurs in Zimbabwe, the strategies used by women entrepreneurs to survive the COVID-19 crisis, and the government support needed by women entrepreneurs to recover from the pandemic. A quantitative research approach using a structured questionnaire was adopted for gathering data. Empirical findings illustrate that women entrepreneurship in Zimbabwe faces a multiplicity of challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, findings indicate that women entrepreneurs are cutting down costs, have introduced new delivery channels, and have reviewed their business models to become more resilient. However, women entrepreneurs also expect the government to offer readily accessible finances, arrange for skills and capacity-building training in response to the new normal, and craft economic recovery policies and packages that are tailored to specifically respond to the needs of women entrepreneurs. The study has both theoretical and practical implications.