An investigation into the challenges facing women entrepreneurs in small and medium enterprises in the Khomas region SME Incubator Centre

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Date
2019
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Publisher
University of Namibia
Abstract
The study examined challenges facing Women Entrepreneurs in Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the Khomas region, Namibia. The study objectives were to identify and rank the chronic challenges that limit the success of women entrepreneurs. Further, the study investigated the fu r damental root causes of these challenges and come up with recommendations to mitigate or ameliorate the fundamental causes and challenges to women entrepreneurs. A mixed research method was used for this study. A sample for the study was selected through stratified random sampling. Through stratified sampling method a sample of 100 business-women was drawn from the population of 15,000 women entrepreneurs in the Khomas region as per the information obtained from the Ministry of Industrialisation Trade and SME Development (MITSMED). Data was collected through questionnaires administered to women entrepreneurs who operate in the SME Incubation centre. Quantitative data collected was analysed by means of descriptive statistics and the results were presented through figures, tables and summaries. Qualitative data was analysed, summarised and arranged into categories then coded and presented in an understandable way. The findings indicated that the challenges facing women entrepreneurs in the Khomas region, particularly the incubation centre were: lack of access to finance ' stiff competition, unavailability of land and premises, lack of skills and male domination. The women entrepreneurs in the Khomas region, especially the incubation centre need support from government and other stakeholders as well as the private sector in aspects of mentoring, subcontracting, eliminating gender inequality, creating fair competition, and availing financing to all. On the basis of the findings, the study recommended that these challenges should be handled strategically by solving the root-cause of the problem. In this regard, women entrepreneurs need more support from government and other stakeholders by reducing or reviewing the barrier requirements that are restricting the women entrepreneurs from operating effectively and efficiently. The study also recommended that the government and private sector should create an open dialogue with women entrepreneurs to review the existing platforms of trading policies as well as such policies to be implemented so that women entrepreneurs can freely trade in a conducive and clean environment to add value to the Namibian economy
Description
A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Business Administration (Management Strategy)
Keywords
Women entrepreneurs, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), Khomas region, Chronic challenges, Namibia, University of Namibia
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