FACTORS AFFECTING WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS UNDER SELF HELP GROUP A CASE OF ADAMA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

Abstract

This study was designed to assess the factors that affect women entrepreneurs under Self Help Groups in Adama town a case to Adama Community Development program. A descriptive survey research design was employed in the study to assess the key factor that affects women entrepreneurs in SHGs in Adama city. It also addressed the characteristics of women entrepreneurs in SHGs and their business and the supports they acquire from TVET colleges/institutes. A sample of 300 women entrepreneurs engaged in 5 sectors was taken for the study using stratified and simple random sampling. In the process of answering the basic questions, a questionnaire that include demographic profiles, characteristics of women entrepreneurs and their business, factors that affect the of women entrepreneurs in SHGs and supports SHGs acquire from TVETs was designed in a closed ended and open ended. 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 SHGs and their business affect their performance .It also shows that lack of own premises(land),financial access, stiff competition, inadequate access to training, access to technology and access to raw materials were the key economic factors that affect the women entrepreneurs in SHGs. 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, high amount of tax and interest, bureaucracies and red tapes, and over all legal and regulatory environments. The study also found that even though TVETs provide technology, machine maintenance, technical skill training and facility supports, co operations in the areas of business related trainings are poor. Even though technical skills trainings are of great importance to eat “breads”, it should be supplemented with business trainings to improve the “breads” in to “cakes”. Hence TVET institutions/colleges should provide both technical and business trainings to SHGs so that these entrepreneurs can with stand competitions, develop entrepreneurial sprits, improve managerial skill in such a competitive world.