FACTORS AFFECTING WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS IN ADDIS ABABA

Abstract

This study was designed to shade light on factors that affect the performance of women entrepreneurs in Addis Ababa metropolitan. It also addressed the features of women entrepreneurs in as well as their respective business and challenges encountered. Further the study also assessed the leadership and governance competence of women entrepreneurs and the required intervention measures by all concerned stakeholders. A sample of 79 women entrepreneurs engaged in five sectors was taken for the study using stratified and simple random sampling. In an attempt to providing answering to the basic research questions, a questionnaire that include demographic profiles, characteristics of women entrepreneurs and their business, factors that affect the performance of women entrepreneurs and supports they seek from stakeholders was designed in a closed ended and Likert Scales. After the data has been collected, it was analyzed using simple statistical techniques (tables and percentages) and descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviations). The results of the study indicates the personal characteristics of women entrepreneurs in Addis Ababa and factors that affect their performance .It also shows that lack of own premises (land), financial access, inadequate access to training, lack of proficiency in business planning and leadership, access to technology and access to raw materials were the key factors that affect the performance of women entrepreneurs in. The study also found that conflicting gender roles, social acceptability and, network with outsiders were the major social factors that affect these entrepreneurs .Furthermore, the main legal/ administrative factors include access to policy makers, interest rate, bureaucracies and red tapes, and over all legal and regulatory environments. The study also found that issues like human resources management, raw material supply, and access to utilities, financing as well as restricting business regulations pose challenges to women entrepreneurs implying that business establishment and operational challenges need to be given due accordance by the concerned. This recommendation addresses Addis Ababa Women Entrepreneurs, Financial Institutions, Educational Institutions and Sectoral Associations and responsible Government Organizations to work in cooperation for the strong and feasible development of Women Entrepreneurs in Addis Ababa.