Women entrepreneurs play increasingly important roles in job creation and sustainable economic growth in developing economies, including sub-Saharan Africa. While Nigeria has made progress in closing gender gaps in women’s employment rights, financial inclusion and access to resources remain challenges for many women who seek to start and grow businesses. Barriers to venture creation are particularly problematic for women entrepreneurs living in rural Nigeria. Yet, few studies have examined women entrepreneurs’ access to capital in the context of rural Nigeria, including the perceived value of informal lenders and government support programs. This thesis informs the literature by reporting on women entrepreneurs who own and operate retail micro-enterprises in rural, South-West Nigeria, specifically Atakunmosa West, Osun State. The study findings demonstrate the value and limitations of informal lenders, such as Ajo and Esusu, in bridging institutional voids in banking practices and technology-enabled money services. Drawing on the social feminist and resource-based theory, the study advances a conceptual model of the gendered context of financial inclusion and considers the implications for research and policy.

This study set out to investigate how mobile money apps facilitate the maintenance of interpersonal relationships and transnational communication practices among migrant women entrepreneurs. Mobile money apps such as MamaMoney, MoneyTrans and Mukuru are a form of communication that are relevant and beneficial to the unbanked migrant women entrepreneurs in South Africa. The main research question was: how do mobile money apps facilitate the maintenance of interpersonal relationships and transnational communication practices among migrant women entrepreneurs? The methodology was informed by a feminist qualitative approach to three focus group discussions with fifteen participants from Nigeria, Zimbabwe and the Democratic Republic of Congo. A thematic analysis of transcriptions of focus group discussions was conducted and two broad themes were identified. The first broad theme explores the communicative dimensions of money transfer through mobile money apps by migrant women entrepreneurs, particularly in relation to their roles as mothers, daughters, sisters and friends in the diaspora. The second broad theme is the use of mobile money apps to solicit emergency funds and financial support during the COVID-19 pandemic. Findings indicate that mobile money apps have reshaped communication practices of migrant women entrepreneurs by enhancing interpersonal communication and facilitating social practices. Furthermore, the COVID-19 pandemic emphasized the two-way nature of bonds of mutual support amongst migrants. This study also draws on the idea of remittance scripts (Carling, 2014). Remittance scripts are a helpful way to conceptualise remittances as social transactions that take several different forms. The theoretical frameworks used in this dissertation are reverse remittances (Mazzucato, 2011), networked individualism (Raine and Wellman, 2012) and polymedia (Madianou and Miller, 2013). The importance of reverse remittances during the COVID-19 period highlights reciprocal bonds of social saving when eMWEs used mobile money apps to solicit financial help and emergency relief when they were unable to work due to the COVID-19 outbreak in South Africa. Reverse remittances also highlight the shift in power relations and the need for communication between eMWEs' and their families and friends at home. As suggested by Kusimba et al., (2015) the application of networked individualism in modern African societies is used in this study to understand how mobile money apps have afforded eMWEs with personal communication channels in addition to household-centred communication around money. Polymedia is used in this study to understand how eMWEs use mobile money apps in conjunction with the complementary affordances of other platforms such as WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook, which compensate for limitations of mobile money apps.

Submitted in accordance with the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Library and Information Science at the University of Zululand, South Africa, 2012. / The use of tools for development has evolved from the industrial revolution in the late 18th and 19th centuries that saw the increased use of machines and developments in the mining industries, to the increased use of information and technology in the 20th century and major breakthroughs that sparked the evolution into the information and knowledge society of the 21st century. The basis of the information and knowledge society revolves around technology’s increased assimilation and diffusion in human society, particularly information and communication technologies and their rapid growth and use in the exchange of information and knowledge. This society offers many opportunities and benefits to people in terms of the facilitation of information creation, distribution, diffusion, access and use for growth and development in various spheres of life. Information and communication technologies are thus regarded as tools for the advancement and development of communities, and this includes rural, illiterate, marginalized and poor communities and the female entrepreneurs in the informal sector who are the subject of this thesis. The aim of this study was to examine information and knowledge society and its impact on poverty alleviation and the economic empowerment of informal sector women entrepreneurs in South Africa and develop a model for utilization of information and knowledge in the informal sector. Both qualitative and quantitative approaches were employed for triangulation, although the qualitative approach significantly outweighed the quantitative in this study. The absence of a comprehensive list of informal activities in KwaZulu-Natal led to the decision to use snowball, purposive and haphazard sampling techniques to select the sample for the study. Focus group discussions, interviews, observation and content analysis were used to collect data from 118 women entrepreneurs from the informal sector, 17 women leaders, and 4 officials from the Hlabisa Local Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal.

Thesis (MBA.) -- University of Limpopo, 2020 / Statistics from European region and sub-Saharan African countries, including South Africa, indicate that the construction industry is distinctly dominated by males and that women representation is very low. Literature indicates that gender-based discrimination, harsh work environment, insufficient knowledge about the construction industry and the shortage of women who are successful in construction are some of the barriers that discourage women from entering the industry. Therefore, this study focussed on the examination of the factors that contribute to the sustainability, or lack there-of women who are already in the construction industry. This study sought to find out how the women entrepreneurs who are in the industry of construction sustain themselves regardless of the many challenges they face. The study applied qualitative design and used of an interview guide as a tool for collecting data in semi-structured interviews with women entrepreneurs in the Capricorn district of Limpopo Province. Data was analysed using the thematic content analysis method. The discovery was that women entrepreneurs tend to give away tenders to male counterparts in order for them to do the actual work. The giving away of contracts in turn builds the experience of their male counterparts and their businesses which contributes to the women not being able to have confidence and be sustainable in the construction industry. Women entrepreneurs who managed to sustain themselves in the industry for longer periods attribute their sustainability on hiring the right people with the right skills and qualifications. These women entrepreneurs recommend that support programmes should be made available and accessible to women in the industry as well as those who are entering so that they do not fall into the trap of giving away or surrendering contracts. This study recommends that new women entrants into the industry should be mentored by women entrepreneurs who are actually doing the job to ensure their sustainability in the industry. It also recommends that the existing structures be more visible and to strengthen their support of these women.

Brazilians create an average of 1.2 million new registered enterprises annually, but some struggle to keep their business in operation. Thirty percent of the new ventures are unable to survive the first year, and 58% go out of business after the first 5 years. The goal of this phenomenological study was to explore the perceptions of Brazilian women entrepreneurs concerning the strategies needed to build sustainable business organizations in Brazil. The individual concepts of sustainable development, sustainability, business strategies, and business models served as the theoretical foundations for the study. Data were collected via in-depth interviews with 20 women entrepreneurs engaged in a range of sustainable or green businesses in Brazil. Moustakas' modified van Kaam analysis method was used to analyze the data. Major themes identified were sustainability trends, health concern solutions, environmental and social distress solutions, cooperatives, and institutional support. Results are significant to all small business communities and entrepreneurs of Brazil because of the high rate of business failures and the need for sustainable business practices. Findings indicated that implementing value-added business strategies through sustainability may increase the likelihood of continued business financial capability. The implications for positive social change are the potential benefits to small business entrepreneurs in the developing world. By learning and implementing the economic, social, and environmental principles of sustainability, entrepreneurs could increase revenue from improved business practices and extend the life of their companies.

The aim of this paper is to make a satisfaction model of women entrepreneurs assuming that the level of satisfaction will make their companies more successful. We carried out a survey of women entrepreneurs and analyzed the satisfaction level using a structural equation model. Results showed that, in general, women entrepreneurs are quite satisfied with their job. Furthermore, these results led us to conclude that to achieve greater success, women entrepreneurs should build a business in which they are trained, in a sector where they have expertise and wherethey find good business opportunities, a market niche with competitive advantages. / El objetivo de este estudio es construir un modelo de análisis de la satisfacción de las mujeres empresarias asumiendo que esta satisfacción repercutirá en mayores niveles de éxito de sus empresas. Para llevar a cabo el estudio, se ha realizado una encuesta a mujeres empresarias y se han aplicado técnicas estadísticas de modelización mediante Sistemas de Ecuaciones Estructurales. Los resultados indican que, en general, las empresarias se encuentran bastante satisfechas con su actividad. Asimismo, dichos resultados nos permiten concluir que, para alcanzar un mayor éxito, las empresarias deberían crear un negocio en el que tengan una formación adecuada, en un sector en el que tengan experiencia y en el que existan buenas oportunidades de negocio, buscando un nicho de mercado en el que tengan ventajas competitivas. / O objetivo deste estudo é construir um modelo para analisar a satisfação das mulheres empresárias, assumindo que esta satisfação representará um maior sucesso das suas empresas. Para o estudo, foi aplicado um questionário às mulheres empresárias utilizando a técnica da Modelagem de Equações Estruturais. Os resultados indicaram que, em geral, as empresárias estão bastante satisfeitas com suas atividades. Além disso, estes resultados permitem concluir que, para alcançar maior sucesso, as empresárias deveriam montar um negócio no qual elas tenham uma formação adequada, em um setor no qual tenham experiência e com boas oportunidades de negócio, procurando um nicho de mercado com vantagens competitivas.

從時代趨勢中洞悉到女性創業議題的重要 ，爰發現青輔會「飛雁專案」下之非預期性政策產出(「中華飛雁創業互助協會」)的關鍵地位與價值，於檢視該組織背後的脈絡因素中覺察到「新制度主義之鑲嵌性概念」與「動態社會資本理論建構」間不謀而合，除確立女性創業環境下公部門（青輔會）、非營利組織（中華飛雁創業互助協會）及個人(微型女性創業者)間之互為鑲嵌關係，更因該組織成立而點明女性創業之動態社會資本建構過程，調和過去二元價值對立的窘境，透過實務與理論間交互檢證，開創女性創業、非營利組織及社會資本理論間之新紀元。 / Owing to the key status and value of the Women Entrepreneurs Association of Taiwan (WEAT) and unpredictable policy output of the“Free & Yong Program ”of National Youth Commission of Executive Yuan (NYC), this paper seeks to identify the importance of current trend issue about women entrepreneurship. In viewing the inner factors of the organizational context, I find there’s a coincidence between the“ embedding concept of new institutionalism” and “dynamic construction of social capital theory”. It not only sets up the correlation among Gov (NYC), NPO（WEAT）and individual (women mircrobusinesses entrepreneurs), but also makes the process of dynamic construction of social capitals in women business clear, harmonizing the paradox of structural/rational dualism in the past. The Interviewing and case study design are mainly employed methods in this research to cross-check practice and theory and thus depicts a better interaction among women entrepreneurship, NPO and social capital theory.

There has been a rapid increase in the number of women entrepreneurs during the last decade. Yet, the number is still rather low why the Swedish Government is performing encouraging efforts. The encouragement of female‟s entrepreneurship is a necessity since women account for a rather new group of entrepreneurs who contributes to the growth of the economy. For most entrepreneurs, the success or failure depends on the ability to create a network of support and access to external capital. Previous research has shown that women entrepreneurs have a harder time to access external capital. These researchers have, however, mostly focused on individual traits and through these explained the financial situation of women entrepreneurs. This research, on the contrary, adopts a sociological research perspective where the everyday experiences of women entrepreneurs are emphasized. The purpose of this study is to understand and describe the financial situations faced by women entrepreneurs within the region of Jönköping. This will be achieved by examining the women‟s experiences in asking for banks‟ capital and the perceptions of the banks in supplying the capital. The study takes on an ethnomethodological research approach and applies a narrative data collection method. Due to the adopted ethnomethodological perspective, the study engages in the mapping of the everyday reality of the researched participants. The narrative data collection method allows the participants to express their stories and experiences. On the basis of an a priori model, the narratives were systematically studied and the financial situation of women entrepreneurs analyzed. The study applies a micro- and a macro analysis under which narratives of two different structures are examined. The micro analysis takes account of the narratives produced by the researched participants without involving any theory. It is found that the women entrepreneurs‟ narratives are more varied and action-oriented whereas the narratives of banks are more conformative and gen-eral. The macro analysis puts the narratives into a broader framework by in-volving both earlier research and a theory developed by Bourdieu. This analysis contributes to an understanding of that the social setting affects the structure, rules and norms of the entrepreneurial field. This may act as hin-ders for women entrepreneurs in terms of accessing capital, networking and overall feeling exhorted to be entrepreneurs. Hence, the reality of women entrepreneurs can be argued to be socially constructed where the women are unfairly seen through influenced eyes.

La presència de les dones emprenedores a l' àmbit empresarial cada vegada va en augment y amb allò, l' interès per conèixer més sobre aquest potencial col·lectiu i els resultats que tenen les empreses que creen. D'una banda, els estudis publicats fins ara se centren en la seva majoria en països anglosaxons, per això existeix una necessitat per conèixer com és aquest col·lectiu en països amb cultura diferent. D'altra banda, existeix debat sobre els resultats de les mateixes per això es fa també necessari considerar aspectes nous en la valoració d'aquest tipus d' empreses. El present treball planteja l' objectiu de determinar l' influència dels factors del procés de creació d'empreses en els resultats de les empreses noves creades per dones. Això, a fi d'explicar alguna variació en els resultats d' aquestes empreses. L'estudi se centra a Espanya i en específic l' objecte d'estudi són empreses noves creades i dirigides per dones ubicades a les ciutats urbanes més grans d'Espanya (amb una població més gran de 500.000 habitants), que són: Barcelona, Madrid, Màlaga, Sevilla, València i Saragossa. Es realitza una revisió d' estudis empírics sobre l' activitat emprenedora femenina publicats i una perspectiva de l'activitat empresarial de dones a Espanya. S' analitzen diverses aportacions teòriques i empíriques referents a l' avaluació dels resultats d'empreses noves. Amb això, construir un marc conceptual que conjuga aquests temes i descriu els factors del procés de creació d'empreses que poden influir en els resultats d'aquest col·lectiu. La metodologia i disseny de l' investigació es basa en l'aplicació a emprenedores fundadores i dirigents de la seva empresa d'un qüestionari per correu postal a una mostra de 253 empreses, equivalent a una taxa de resposta del 22,33%. La qual, és considerada molt alta per a aquest tipus de qüestionaris i Espanya. Dit qüestionari d'elaboració pròpia identifica els factors que poden influir en els resultats d'una empresa nova. El model d' investigació va ser contrastat i provat mitjançant el mètode de regressió lineal per a les variables continues la família, objectius empresarials i resultats de les empreses i, els mètodes no-paramètrics dels Mann-Whitney i Kolgomorov-Smirov per a les variables dicotòmiques pla d'empresa, experiència professional i institucions externes . Els resultats mostren que el perfil soci demogràfic de les emprenedores espanyoles correspon al de països amb alts ingressos només amb petites diferències en el nivell educatiu i l' edat que són una mica més altes. Hi ha evidència significativa de l'efecte positiu que tenen els objectius empresarials perseguits per la emprenedora i el suport brindat per la seva família sobre els resultats de les seves empreses. També, es corrobora de manera parcial l'efecte positiu de les relacions amb institucions externes. En canvi, les variables d'experiència professional i pla d'empresa tenen un efecte nul. Aquesta investigació s'inscriu dintre d'un corrent de treballs empírics que estudien l'activitat del female entrepreneurship i, pretén ser una aportació que permeti ampliar el coneixement existent i pugui conduir a futures investigacions sobre aquest col·lectiu. / La presencia de las mujeres emprendedoras en el ámbito empresarial cada vez va en aumento y con ello, el interés por conocer mas acerca de este potencial colectivo y de los resultados que tienen las empresas que crean. Por un lado, los estudios publicados hasta ahora se centran en su mayoría en países anglosajones, por lo que existe una necesidad por conocer como es este colectivo en pasíses con cultura diferente. Por otro lado, existe debate sobre los resultados que tienen este tipo de empresas por lo que se hace también necesario considerar aspectos nuevos en la valoración de estas empresas. El presente trabajo plantea el objetivo de determinar la influencia de factores del proceso de creación de empresas en los resultados de las nuevas empresas creadas por mujeres. Esto, con el fin de explicar alguna diferenciación en los resultados de estas empresas. El estudio se centra en España y en específico el objeto de estudio son las nuevas empresas creadas y dirigidas por mujeres ubicadas en las ciudades urbanas más grandes de España (con una población mayor a los 500.000 habitantes), que son: Barcelona, Madrid, Málaga, Sevilla, Valencia y Zaragoza. Se realiza una revisión de estudios empíricos sobre la actividad emprendedora femenina publicados y una perspectiva de la actividad empresarial de mujeres en España. Se analizan diversas aportaciones teóricas y empíricas referentes a la evaluación de los resultados de nuevas empresas. Para así, construir un marco conceptual que conjunta estos temas y describe los factores del proceso de creación de empresas que pueden influir en los resultados de este colectivo. La metodología y diseño de la investigación está basada en la aplicación de un cuestionario por correo postal a una muestra de 253 emprendedoras fundadoras y dirigentes de su empresa, con una tasa de respuesta del 22,33%. La cual, es considerada muy alta para este tipo de cuestionarios y España. Dicho cuestionario de elaboración propia identifica los factores que pueden influir en los resultados de una nueva empresa. El modelo de investigación fue contrastado y probado mediante el método de regresiones lineales para las variables continuas la familia, objetivos empresariales y resultados de las empresas y, los métodos no-paramétricos de Mann-Whitney y Kolgomorov-Smirov para las variables dicotómicas plan de empresa, experiencia profesional e instituciones externas . Los resultados muestran que el perfil sociodemográfico de las emprendedoras españolas corresponde al de países con altos ingresos solo con pequeñas diferencias en el nivel educativo y la edad que son un poco más altas. Hay evidencia significativa del efecto positivo que tienen los objetivos empresariales perseguidos por la emprendedora y el apoyo brindado de su familia sobre los resultados de sus empresas. También, se corrobora de manera parcial el efecto positivo de las relaciones con instituciones externas. En cambio, son nulos los efectos de las variables experiencia profesional y plan de empresa. Esta investigación se inscribe dentro de una corriente de trabajos empíricos que estudian la actividad del female entrepreneurship y, pretende ser una aportación que permita ampliar el conocimiento existente y pueda conducir a futuras investigaciones sobre este colectivo. / The presence of female entrepreneurs in the business world is increasingly growing together with the interest in learning more about this potential collective and the performance of businesses that create. On the one hand, the studies published so far are mostly focused on Anglo-Saxon countries, so that there is a need to learn more about this group in countries with different culture. On the other hand, due to an existing debate about the performance of this kind of ventures, it is also necessary to consider new aspects for the valuation of these businesses. The current dissertation aims at determining the influence of factors of business creation process in the performance of new businesses created by women. This in order to explain some differences in the performance of these ventures. The study focuses on Spain and its specific object are the new companies run by women and located in the largest urban cities in Spain (with a population greater than 500,000), which are: Barcelona, Madrid, Málaga, Sevilla, Valencia and Zaragoza. A literature review of empirical studies published about female entrepreneurship and a perspective of this activity in Spain are realized. A range of theoretical and empirical contributions relating to the new businesses performance's evaluation are analysed. The purpose is to build a conceptual framework that brings together these issues and describes the factors in the process of venture creation that may influence the performance of this collective. The methodology and research design are based on the application of a questionnaire by mail to a sample of 253 women entrepreneurial founders and managers of his own business. The response rate was of 22.33%, which is considered very high for this type of questionnaire and Spain. Such a specifically designed questionnaire identifies the factors that may influence the performance of a new business. The research model was contrasted and tested through linear regression model for the continuous variables -family, business goals and business performance- and non-parametric methods Mann-Whitney and Kolgomorov-Smirov for dichotomous variables -business plan, professional experience and external institutions-. The results show that sociodemographic profile of Spanish female entrepreneurs is similar to the high income countries only with small differences in educational level and age that are a bit higher. There is a significant evidence of positive effect that corporate objectives pursued by the female entrepreneurs and the support of their families have on their businesses performance. Furthermore, the positive effect of relations with external institutions is partially corroborated. Whereas the effects of professional experience and business plan variables are null. This research falls into a series of empirical studies on female entrepreneurship activity, it is meant to contribute to widen the current knowledge and can lead to future research on this collective.

<p>There has been a rapid increase in the number of women entrepreneurs during the last decade. Yet, the number is still rather low why the Swedish Government is performing encouraging efforts. The encouragement of female‟s entrepreneurship is a necessity since women account for a rather new group of entrepreneurs who contributes to the growth of the economy. For most entrepreneurs, the success or failure depends on the ability to create a network of support and access to external capital. Previous research has shown that women entrepreneurs have a harder time to access external capital. These researchers have, however, mostly focused on individual traits and through these explained the financial situation of women entrepreneurs. This research, on the contrary, adopts a sociological research perspective where the everyday experiences of women entrepreneurs are emphasized.</p><p>The purpose of this study is to understand and describe the financial situations faced by women entrepreneurs within the region of Jönköping. This will be achieved by examining the women‟s experiences in asking for banks‟ capital and the perceptions of the banks in supplying the capital.</p><p>The study takes on an ethnomethodological research approach and applies a narrative data collection method. Due to the adopted ethnomethodological perspective, the study engages in the mapping of the everyday reality of the researched participants. The narrative data collection method allows the participants to express their stories and experiences.</p><p>On the basis of an a priori model, the narratives were systematically studied and the financial situation of women entrepreneurs analyzed. The study applies a micro- and a macro analysis under which narratives of two different structures are examined. The micro analysis takes account of the narratives produced by the researched participants without involving any theory. It is found that the women entrepreneurs‟ narratives are more varied and action-oriented whereas the narratives of banks are more conformative and gen-eral. The macro analysis puts the narratives into a broader framework by in-volving both earlier research and a theory developed by Bourdieu. This analysis contributes to an understanding of that the social setting affects the structure, rules and norms of the entrepreneurial field. This may act as hin-ders for women entrepreneurs in terms of accessing capital, networking and overall feeling exhorted to be entrepreneurs. Hence, the reality of women entrepreneurs can be argued to be socially constructed where the women are unfairly seen through influenced eyes.</p>