Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Samuel G Final Proposal
Samuel G Final Proposal
By:
1.Muluneh Zeyne
2 .Gadisa Diriba
DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMICS
JANUARY, 2021
NGO............................Non-Government Enterprises
Table of Contents
ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS...................................................................................i
CHAPTER ONE........................................................................................................................1
INTRODUCTION......................................................................................................................1
CHAPTER TWO.......................................................................................................................8
2. THEORETICAL REVIEW................................................................................................8
CHAPTER THREE..................................................................................................................23
3
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
In the least developing countries, half of their populations are women and they face many
problems that include economic, social and political factors. Women are restricted from
taking power in their own country regardless of their knowledge and experience levels.
Moreover, they have a problem of feeling inferior to men. These attitudes of society
4
understate them not to do (not to participate in the labor force) in proper manner and
contribute what they know, in the development of their family particularly and their countries
in general (Tsehay, 2004).
The contribution of women entrepreneurs MSEs is very essential to poverty reduction, job
creation and business growth in many countries. There is now wide recognition of the
contribution of women in MSE. In the Ethiopian context despite, the political contribution of
MSEs of women to poverty reduction and employment creation and they also create
backward and forward linkage between agricultural and industrial sectors of the economy.
The MSE will supply raw material for the agriculture sector and increases the productivity of
agricultural sectors will enable the rural population to earn better and it also makes available
the requirement of agricultural input for the industrial sector like food, beverage, clothes,
etc(African book collection on African females’ entrepreneurs’ volume II, 2007).
The role of entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial culture in economic and social development
has often been underestimated. It was not common to see women-owned businesses
worldwide especially in developing countries like Ethiopia. The idea and practice of women
entrepreneurship is a recent phenomenon. Until the 1980s little was known about women
entrepreneurship both in practice and research, which made its focus entirely on men.
Scientific discourse about women's entrepreneurship and women-owned and run
organizations is just the development of the 1980s (ILO, 2009).
The MSE sector plays an important role in providing people with livelihood and income-
generating opportunities, providing income and services to people who cannot get
employment in the formal sector. The Central Statistical Authority (2002) of Ethiopia,
defined MSEs
„" as household type establishment /activity/, which are mainly engaged in marketed
production, are not registered companies or co-operatives, have no full written book of
accounts, have less than 10 persons engaged in the activities and have no license."
The definition used by the Ethiopian Ministry of Trade and Industry in 1997, has been
developed for formulating MSE. According to MSE Development Strategy in 1997/2005,
cited in Hailay (2007); Micro and small scale enterprises are kind of establishments with
small capital investment. Although there are a variety of measures to categorize micro and
5
small scale enterprises in different countries, in Ethiopia an establishment is said to be micro
or small enterprise if it is set up with capital less than Birr 500,000. To be more specific,
micro-enterprises are those enterprises with start-up capital of less than Birr 20,000 whereas
small enterprises incorporate all establishments whose capital of setting (start-up) lay
between Birr 20,000 and Birr 500,000.
When we come to the Oromia Regional state, it is one of the regions in which many women
are found. According to the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia’s Population Census
Commission (FDREPCC, 2007) of the 27,158,471 total population of Oromia Region,
13,482,312/49.6% are females. More than half of these females (51.15%) are within the age
category of 15-59 years which is considered as a productive age. Though the region is
enriched by this greater and productive number of women, it seems that it does not utilize
them as expected quality as well as quantity-wise. To make the country, the region and
women themselves beneficiaries of this great potential, appropriate measures should be taken
to reduce the bottlenecks/challenges that women entrepreneurs in MSEs encounter.
Among the towns in the Oromia region, Holeta is one where a large number of women
entrepreneurs are found. Information taken from Holeta MSEs Office shows those more than
2,000 women entrepreneurs are found in the town. Like the region as a whole, women
entrepreneurship problems are tremendous in the town too.
In Ethiopia, many problems affect the production capacity of MSE. Such as:- lack of market,
finance, business information, low ability to acquire skills and managerial expertise, low
access to appropriate technology, poor access to quality business infrastructure, unfavorable
legal and regulation environment, rent sacking, lack of raw materials, and discouragement
from society of women entrepreneurs(Mulu, 2009).
6
As mentioned in the background above, there are a large number of women in the Oromia
region. But, the region does not yet exploit them very well to contribute a lot for economic
development; this is supported by different empirical evidences. For example, Gemechis
(2007) and ILO (2009) stressed that entrepreneurs are surrounded by several challenges. This
forces entrepreneurs in MSEs not to contribute a lot to the poverty reduction in the town,
region and the country as a whole.
“… More than half of all women entrepreneurs in Ethiopia often face gender-related
challenges related to establishing new businesses as well as operating or expanding existing
businesses. Women are disadvantaged due to culture, religion, and tradition. For instance,
many women face difficulty in raising credit finance from banks as well as borrowing via
informal networking. This forces entrepreneurs in MSEs not to contribute a lot to the poverty
reduction of the town, region and the country as a whole.”
The study of the empowerment of women in economy is a very essential issue in the world
today. It is found that studies have dealt with various parts of women entrepreneurship.
Research has also carried on the impact of social-cultural factors on women entrepreneurship
independently. There is work on women empowerment, constraints and programs on
entrepreneurship at the international, national and regional levels.
This study is different from those researchers discussed above in that their focus areas were
in all economic activities regardless of specific sectors and, therefore their studies did not
address women entrepreneurs in specifically limited sectors.
However, this study will specifically emphasis on five economic sectors in which women
entrepreneurs mainly engaged in and factors that affect their performances in MSEs
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particularly in Holeta town. Above all, the research entitled factors affecting women
participation in MSEs will deem upon two gaps; area of the study and specific sectors. The
why the study area taken as a gap is that there were no prior researches had been taken on the
said title in Holeta Town. (Source: Holeta MSEs Office annual report (2010 E, C)
Hence, findings of this study are to identify the hindering factors and outlining how the
entrepreneurs of women in small-scale enterprises identified above might be enhanced and is
expected to help them in strengthening and improving their engagement in MSEs in the town.
1. What are the factors that affect the production capacity (competence at work) of the
women participation in micro and small scale enterprises in Bule Horaa town?
3. What are the challenges women face in (setting) starting own business?
4. What source of funds is available to women in micro and small scale enterprises in Bule
Hora town?
The general objectives of the study will be assessing factors affecting women entrepreneurs
participation in micro and small scale enterprises in Holeta town.
To identify the factors that affect women's participation in micro and small-
scale enterprises in Bule Hora town.
To estimate the roles of women participation in micro and small-scale
enterprises to improve employment in the town.
To identify and assess the challenges that women face when they start their
own business.
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To examine the source of funds available to women in micro and small scale
enterprises.
The study focuses on assessing the factors affecting women participation in micro and small
scale enterprises in Bule Hora town. The study is better if it includes all micro and small scale
enterprises in Ethiopia. But, due to - lack of finance, limitation of time and lack of experience
in undertaking the research, the study will focus only in Bule Hora town.
Information taken from the Holeta trade and industry office shows that more than 2000
women entrepreneurs are found in the town. Had the study been conducted in all these (if
possible) or the majority of them, it will have been completed. Furthermore, different issues
can be studied about women entrepreneurs. But, this study will be delimited to the key
economic, socio-cultural, legal/administrative factors affecting the performance of women
entrepreneurs in MSEs.
Besides, the study will focus only on assessing the major personal and organizational
characteristics of women entrepreneurs in MSEs to check whether these characteristics affect
their performance. It will also address the training, machines, financials, raw materials,
technologies and facilities support that Holeta TVETs provide to these entrepreneurs to
minimize the problems the women entrepreneurs in MSEs face. Moreover, women
entrepreneurs in 5 key sectors (construction, industry, service, trade and urban agriculture)
are considered as growth corridors nowadays and only the case of Holeta town women
entrepreneurs will be considered given all other constraints.
The effective implementation of the study may have the following significances: The study
will be to determine women’s participation in micro and small scale enterprise that affects
economic growth and development. It will assess the impact of women in economic growth,
initiates, motivates women to participate in business activity and economic growth. It will
also provide relevant information for policymakers, trade and industry office, administrative
bodies of the town and concerned bodies to consider the nature of women's questions when
they design the programs. Moreover, it will provide information to micro and small-scale
9
enterprises about the problem of productivity and forward the possible recommendation and,
has great value for those who want to undertake further study on a related topic.
This paper will be organized into five chapters. The first chapter contains the introduction
part of the research concerned with the background of the study, statement of the problem,
research questions, and objectives of the study, the scope of the study, the significances of the
study and the limitations of the study (forecasted). The second chapter contains a related
literature review of the study that explains the ideas of different intellectuals or experts
regarding the main focus of the chapter. The third chapter contains the methodology of the
data, the fourth
chapter concerns data presentation, analysis, and interpretation, and the last chapter concerns
a summary of major findings, conclusion, and recommendations.
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CHAPTER TWO
2. THEORETICAL REVIEW
While many countries are making serious efforts to support entrepreneurship, results appear
to vary. Countries want to understand the determinants of and obstacles to entrepreneurship,
and they need to analyze the effectiveness of different policy approaches. The lack of
internationally comparable empirical evidence has however constrained our understanding of
entrepreneurship and many questions remain unanswered. Ultimately, policymaking must be
guided, as far as possible, by pieces of evidence and facts.
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2.1.1. Meaning and Definitions of Entrepreneurship
Furthermore, Timmons, J.A, et.al (1989) defined it in such a way that: Entrepreneurship is
the process of creating and building something of value from practically nothing. That is, it is
the process of creating or seizing an opportunity and pursuing it regardless of the resources
currently controlled. It involves the definition, creation, and distribution of values and
benefits to individuals, groups, organizations, and society. Entrepreneurship is very rarely a
get-rich-quick proposition (not short term); rather it is one of building long term value and
durable cash flow streams.
From the definitions given above, it is possible to conclude that in almost all of the
definitions of entrepreneurship, there is an agreement that we are talking about a kind of
behavior that includes: (1) Initiative taking, (2) The organizing and reorganizing of social
and economic mechanisms to turn resources and situations to practical account,(3) The
acceptance of risk or failure and appears as a source of supply, a customer or someone who
creates wealth for others as well, who finds better ways to utilize resources and reduce waste
and who produces jobs others are glad to get.
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2.1.2. The Benefits of Entrepreneurship
According to the World Bank (2007), Fox (2001) and Hirsch (2005), entrepreneurship has the
following benefits:
Entrepreneurs are their bosses; they make their own decisions and choose whom to do
business with and what work they will do. They also decide what hours to work, as
well as what to pay and whether to take vacations.
Entrepreneurship offers a greater possibility of achieving significant financial rewards
than working for someone else.
It provides the ability to be involved in the total operation of the business, from
concept to design and creation, from sales to business operations and customer
response.
It offers the prestige of being the person in charge.
It allows an individual to build equity, which can be kept, sold, or passed on to the
next generation.
Entrepreneurship creates an opportunity for a person to contribute. Most new
entrepreneurs help the local economy. A few—through their innovations—contribute
to society as a whole.
It is a catalyst for economic change and growth. Entrepreneurship increase per capita
output and income. By doing so it involves initiating and constituting a change in the
structure of business and society. As a result, entrepreneurship contributes a lot in
increasing countries output and productivity
Entrepreneurship encourages innovation and creativity. It develops new products or
services for the market to fulfill human needs. It also stimulates investment interest in
the new ventures being created.
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Entrepreneurship through its process of innovation creates new investment of new
ventures. More ventures being created, new jobs will be produced, thus reduce the
unemployment rate. That will creates and promote wealth distribution.
As explained above, entrepreneurship helps the economy by creating wealth for many
individuals looking for business opportunities. Although this is not the number one reason
individuals pursue entrepreneurial activities, it plays a major role in our economy. Both new
business and the wealth owner can obtain will help boost the economy by providing new
products as well as the spending power created for the entrepreneur. Without entrepreneurs,
our economy would not benefit from the boost they give from added business and ideas.
Furthermore, starting a business can be rewarding. They can have more control over their
working hours and conditions than they would have if they worked for someone else. If they
cannot find a job they want, they can go into business to create their own business. For
example, they may have a new idea about a particular product or service. If they believe that
others would be attracted to it, they can go into business for themselves. They may make a
profit, which is the money left over after paying their bills, from being creative and doing
what they enjoy.
Even though entrepreneurship has its advantages, it is not free of problems. For this, there are
several factors. Samiti (2006), Tan (2009) classified the basic factors that affect entrepreneurs
into two broad categories –economic and social.
The economic factors; include competition in the market; lack of access to the market, lack
of access to raw material, lack of capital or finance, lack of marketing knowledge; lack of
production/ storage space; poor infrastructure; inadequate power supply and lack of business
training.
The social factors; include lack of social acceptability; having limited contacts outside
prejudice and class bias; society looks down upon; an attitude of other employees; and
relations with the workforce. Besides this, Gemechis (2007), Hirsch (2005), ILO (2009)
added Social and cultural attitudes towards youth entrepreneurship; entrepreneurship
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education; administrative and regulatory framework; and business assistance and support;
barriers to access technology are crucial factors that affect entrepreneurial success.
While research shows similarities in the personal demographics of men and women
entrepreneurs, there are differences in business and industry choices, financing strategies,
growth patterns, and governance structures of female-led ventures. These differences provide
undeniable reasons to study female entrepreneurship – looking specifically at women
founders, their ventures, and their entrepreneurial behaviors as a unique subset of
entrepreneurship.
Just as we have found that clinical trials conducted on an all-male population do not
necessarily provide accurate information about the diagnosis or treatment of female patients,
we see that scholarly research focused only on male entrepreneurial ventures leaves many
questions unanswered for their female counterparts. Some argue that it is important to look at
female entrepreneurs who, though they share many characteristics with their male colleagues,
are unique in many aspects. Observable differences in their enterprises reflect underlying
differences in their motivations and goals, preparation, organization, strategic orientation, and
access to resources.
Birley (1987) stressed the differences even in their background and personal characteristics.
He found the female entrepreneurs to be the firstborn; from a middle or upper-class family;
the daughter of a self-employed father; educated to degree level; married with children; forty
to forty-five at start-up; and with relevant experience in their desire in starting new
businesses, researchers identified many reasons for women to become entrepreneurs.
15
South African Entrepreneurs Network (2011) as cited in
http://www.dti.gov.za/sawen/SAWENreport2.pdf pointed out that challenges/attractions of
entrepreneurship; self-determination/autonomy; family concerns – balancing career and
family; lack of career advancement/discrimination; and organizational dynamics
power/politics are reported as main initiators to become entrepreneurs for women. The report
also added the desire to make a social contribution and helping others is a key factor in
women choosing to become business owners.
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2.2. EMPIRICAL REVIEW
In many societies, women do not enjoy the same opportunities as men. In many transitional
economies, progress has been achieved in opening doors to education and health protection
for women but political and economic opportunities for female entrepreneurs have remained
limited. Concerted efforts are needed to enable female entrepreneurs to make better economic
choices and to transform their businesses into competitive enterprises, generating income and
employment through improved production (OECD, 1997).
Women Entrepreneurs have grown in large numbers across the globe over the last decade and
increase the entrepreneurial potentials of women have changed the rural economies in many
parts of the world. But this does not mean that the problems are resolved.
There have been many areas of progress in reducing gender disparities in many developing
countries specifically in education and health but gaps persist in women’s empowerment in
the economic sphere (World Economic Forum, 2013). Despite the recognition of women’s
entrepreneurship development as a driver of economic opportunity/ empowerment and its
significant spillover effect on other areas of human development, several constraints persist
that hamper women’s entrepreneurship development. These relate as mentioned in the
previous sections to the primary responsibility of reproductive and community roles that
women have to fulfill those include activities such as child-rearing and taking care of the
elderly and the sick.
Other constraints are lack of access to finance, training, markets, networks, discriminatory
legal framework as well as the insufficient capacity of government, civil society, businesses,
17
and financial service institutions to address gender inequality (USAID, 2006). Women also
have less education, limited business experience, and fewer networks to leverage access to
business resources, information, and advice. (ILO, 2014). Some of the challenges are
presented in detail below.
Although over 136 countries have explicitly stated in their constitutions equality between
men and women, there is still a long way to go for many developing countries with regards to
controlling property (IFC, 2014). The same report mentions that women do not have the same
security in property rights as men. It notes that only 20 countries of the 136 do not have legal
gaps in the economic rights of women and men. It further mentions that guaranteeing
constitutional rights does not ensure equality where in many countries particularly in Africa
and the Pacific, non-codified and customary laws override the formal written laws. The study
gives an example of many African countries where married women are not entitled to land
titles without their husband’s authorization. Ownership of land remains with husbands while
wives claim only to use it.
Depending on the structure of marital arrangements, women may lose their access to land
previously owned through marriage. According to the report, this limits the ability to aspire
women entrepreneurs to use their properties as collateral for loans. Thus, women have limited
financial capital for initiating business and growth. Challenges remain even for those
entrepreneurs who have already entered the informal labor market. Many of these women and
their businesses are not registered formally and they function outside protection of laws and
regulation and thus lack basic social protection and representation.
Basic health provisions, safety standards, worker rights protection, and natural environment
protection are lacking (ILO, 2014).
As women's businesses, especially those in the rural areas, are operated very close to the
home, their market access is limited to individual buyers or the immediate neighborhood.
This narrows the market and limits the enterprise’s expansion capacity. Product quality and
external factors such as the situation of the existing infrastructure, also affect market access
for the products of women entrepreneurs.
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Lack of Affordable Appropriate Technology
A study conducted among women microenterprise operators in Kenya showed that lack of
access to improved technology (including training in business skills) acted as a barrier to
expansion, rather than as a barrier to entry in the MSE sector. The study states that
technology is likely to be synonymous with new tools or new machinery that the micro-
entrepreneur cannot afford (Gichira, 1992). Likewise, a brief study sponsored by the
Christian Relief and Development Agency (CRDA) in 1998 revealed that failure to promote
and develop improved technology has discouraged women in the southern part of Ethiopia
from producing and marketing "enset" (banana used as staple food) on a commercial scale
(Tsegaye, 1998).
Women who want to expand their businesses often have insufficient financial resources to
buy inputs in bulk to minimize their costs (AEMFI, 2002). Many women-owned enterprises,
therefore, suffer a disadvantage in the price of inputs because of the lack of economies of
scale.
This holds for male entrepreneurs as well, but the idea of organizing groups for bulk
purchasing is relatively difficult for women entrepreneurs to implement as they are impeded
by cultural barriers and a lack of information for enjoying such schemes.
Low educational levels are characteristic of the women who operate survival level
enterprises, especially in the rural areas of the country. Unless interventions are directed at
young women and school-leaving girls, the existing, traditionally women-operated
enterprises will not move up or graduate to the upper end of MSEs. Young people, owing to
their better education, can be guided, retrained and redirected to become more productive and
growth-oriented entrepreneurs. The government should therefore identify and motivate young
girls coming out of school and provide the appropriate facilities to help transform them into a
new breed of women entrepreneurs (Tsehay, Tsegaye & Mengistu, Bedieye, 2002).
Women's Business Research in the United States as sited in UNECE (2004) and Mahbub
(2009) identified the following factors that affect women entrepreneurs.
19
Access to finance
With regards to finances, women have less access to financial services when compared with
their male counterparts which include checking and savings accounts and formal credits.
(IFC, 2011)
It is a key issue for women. Accessing credit, particularly for starting an enterprise is one of
the major constraints faced by women entrepreneurs. Women often have fewer opportunities
than men to gain access to credit for various reasons, including lack of collateral, an
unwillingness to accept household assets as collateral and negative perceptions of female
entrepreneurs by loan officers (Mahbub, 2009).
Access to markets
The ability to tap into new markets requires expertise, knowledge, and contacts. Women
often lack access to training and experience on how to participate in the market place and are
therefore unable to market their goods and services strategically. Thus, women-owned SMEs
are often unable to take on both the production and marketing of their goods. Also, they have
often not been exposed to the international market, and therefore lack knowledge about what
is internationally acceptable. The high cost of developing new business contacts and
relationships in a new country or market is a big deterrent and obstacle for many SMEs, in
particular, women-owned businesses. Women may also fear or face prejudice or sexual
harassment and may be restricted in their ability to travel to make contacts (UNECE, 2004).
Access to policymakers
Robertson (1998), OECD (2002), ILO (2008) added that the key factors that affect women
entrepreneurs' performance especially in developing continents like Africa are: vulnerability
of women to adverse effects of trade reform; restraints concerning assets (land); lack of
information to exploit opportunities; and Poor mobilization of women entrepreneurs; lack of
management skills; lack of awareness among young women of entrepreneurship as a career
option; conflicting gender roles; gender inequality inappropriate technology; and constraints
at the legal, institutional and policy levels.
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2.3. Women Entrepreneurs in MSEs
Women Entrepreneurs in MSEs are important to almost all economies in the world, but
especially to those in developing countries and within that broad category, especially to those
with major employment and income distribution challenges. On what we may call the "static"
front, women entrepreneurs in MSEs contribute to output and the creation of "decent" jobs;
on the dynamic front they are an important step up for expanding micro-enterprises i.e. they
contribute directly and often significantly to aggregate savings and investment, and in the
development of appropriate technology.
Even though women entrepreneurs in MSEs contribute a lot to the economic development of
a country, several challenges affect them.
For instance, according to World Bank (2011), ILO (2003), (SMIDEC, 2004), women
entrepreneurs in MSEs are affected by lack of entrepreneurial; managerial and marketing
skills bureaucracy and red tape; lack of accessibility to information and knowledge;
difficulties accessing financial resources/Lack of capital; lack of accessibility to investment
(technology equipment and know-how); nonconformity of standardization, lack of quality
awareness and lack of mutual recognition schemes; Product and service range and usage
differences; language barriers and cultural differences; risks in selling abroad; competition of
indigenous MSEs in foreign markets; inadequate behaviors of multinational companies
against domestic MSEs/Lack of government supply-supporting programs; complexity of
trade documentation including packaging and labeling; lack of government incentives for
internationalization of MSEs; inadequate intellectual property protection; unfavorable legal
21
and regulatory environments and, in some cases, discriminatory regulatory practices; lack of
business premises (at affordable rent); and low access to appropriate technology and the like.
Furthermore, a study made in Malaysia by APEC (1994) shows that the women entrepreneurs
in MSEs are facing many challenges, which are attributed to lack of comprehensive
framework in terms of policies towards MSEs development; many agencies or channels for
MSEs without effective coordination (this leads to a lack of transparency to the target
groups); inadequate data and information on the development of SMEs; inability to be in the
mainstream of industrial development.
Many MSEs still occupy lands or sites that are not approved to be used for industrial
purposes. There is also underutilization of technical assistance, advisory services and other
incentives made available by the government and its agencies. In addition, there is a lack of
skilled and talented workers which affects the quality of production as well as efficiency and
productivity.
A national survey conducted by the Ethiopian Welfare Monitoring Unit as sited in Eshetu and
Zeleke (2008) shows that women entrepreneurs in Ethiopia are not provided with adequate
policy-related and strategic support from the national government and that the promotion of
vibrant SMEs should be one of the most important priority strategies for empowering women,
addressing abject poverty and unemployment.
However, it is only recently that women's entrepreneurship has gained the attention of
economic planners and policymakers particularly in developing countries in Ethiopia.
Although the national government has come to acknowledge that supporting enterprises
operated by women promotes gender equality and economic empowerment, the majority of
enterprises operated by women face difficulty in terms of access to finance, resources,
business skills and institutional support Ethiopian Ministry of Trade and Industry of Ethiopia
22
(2003); National Bank of Ethiopia (2002); Negash & Kena, (2003). The studies stressed that
SMEs owned or operated by women in Ethiopia survive against tremendous odds of failure.
While it is true that the predominant image of the "Ethiopian woman entrepreneur" is one of
the poor women trying to survive, there are other profiles. One is of the woman who has,
because of higher education and better access to economic and resources, been able to grow
her microenterprise into the small enterprise category (Hadiya, 1998; ILO, 2003). According
to Hadiya, these women believe they are the most neglected category of women
entrepreneurs because they do not have institutional credit or other support services available
to them.
These women have outgrown the microfinance system and yet are not able to borrow from
banks. The other profile is of the woman who, because of her higher education, previous
work experience, and better economic circumstances, has access to the financial and other
resources needed to start and grow larger enterprises. Members of the Ethiopian Women
Exporters' Forum (EWEF) are illustrative of this group, although members of the EWEF
complain about inadequate access to commercial bank loans to meet their working capital
needs because of the rigid requirement for collateral guarantees (which they often cannot
meet). The research has shown that women can make the transition from a micro to a small
enterprise under the right circumstances. The ILO (2003) study of women in growth
enterprises found that 70 percent of the women entrepreneurs currently engaged in small
enterprises had started them as micro-enterprises and grown them over time.
Eshetu and Zeleke (2008), ILO (2003) also identified that the following are the main
challenges that women entrepreneurs in Ethiopia face in sequential order from very severe to
least important.
23
Furthermore, ILO (2003) found that lack of suitable location or sales outlet; stiff competition;
low purchasing power of the local population; lack of marketing know-how; seasonal nature
of the business; lack of market information; inadequate infrastructure; shortage of time (due
to multiple tasks); shortage of raw materials; Shortage of working capital are constraints of
women entrepreneurs in Ethiopia.
A study conducted by ILO (2008) in Ethiopia, the United Republic of Tanzania and Zambia
identified that women entrepreneurs do not have the same access to networks as men;
women entrepreneurs have difficulties accessing premises due to, among other things, a lack
of property and inheritance rights; women's lack of access to titled assets that can be offered
as collateral for loans adversely affects the growth of their enterprises; women entrepreneurs
lack access to formal finance and rely on loans from family and community; women
entrepreneurs tend to be grouped in particular sectors, particularly food processing and
textiles; business development service providers do not give adequate time or effort to target
women, entrepreneurs – they do not offer flexible arrangements in respect of the timing and
location of service delivery; women often experience harassment in registering and operating
their enterprises.
According to Schorling (2006), ILO (2006) in Ethiopia the idea of Micro & Small Enterprises
(MSEs) development emerged as a promising agenda in the 1980s. A variety of reasons has
been cited for the surge of interest in MSEs development, like:
In November 1997, the Ethiopian Ministry of Trade and Industry has published the "Micro
and Small Enterprises Development Strategy", which enlightens a systematic approach to
alleviate the problems and promote the growth of SMEs. Elements of the program include
24
measures concerning creating an enabling legal framework and streamlining regulatory
conditions that hinder the coming up of new and expansion of existing MSEs. Besides,
specific support programs also include measures related to facilitating access to finance,
provision of incentives, promotion of partnerships, training, access to appropriate technology,
access to market, access to information and advice, infrastructure and institutional
strengthening of the private sector associations and chamber of commerce (ILO,2003).
The following definition of MSE is from the Ethiopian Ministry of Trade and Industry (1997)
and is used to categorize the sector for the strategy:
Micro Enterprises are those small business enterprises with a paid-up capital of not
exceeding Birr 20,000, and excluding high technical consultancy firms and establishments.
Small Enterprises are those business enterprises with a paid-up capital of above 20,000 and
not exceeding Birr 500,000 and excluding high technical consultancy firms and other high
tech establishments.
The Micro and Small Enterprises Sector is described as the national homes of
entrepreneurship. It provides the ideal environment and enabling entrepreneurs to exercise
their talents to the full and to attain their goals. In comparison with other countries it is
known that in all the successful economies, MSEs are seen as a springboard for growth, job
creation and social progress at large.
CHAPTER THREE
This chapter will include background and population of the study area, source of the data,
method of data collection, population, sample size, sampling techniques and method of data
analysis.
25
3.1. Discription of the study area
According to 1994 census report of CSA, population statistics of Holeta town is 16,755, of
which 5,040 are males 8,745 are females. After years, 2007 census, reported 25,993 total
populations 12,605 are males and the rest populations were females respectively. The study
area is inhabited by 36,325 populations of which 49.8% are male while the remaining
population, 50.2% are females and the mean of family size in household heads is 4.6 out of a
total household, 7,596 (Holeta Town Administration Profile, 2017).
Annually, population size is growing at the rate of 2.7 % due to the pulling factor that is its
closeness to Addis Ababa invites a large number of labor workers for the search of job
opportunities within and approached towns. But, the recent data regards to population size in
8 kebeles of town shows that the study area contains around 63,139 populations of which
total household heads are 10,484. Of total household heads, 4355 are females and the
remaining, 6129 are male household heads. Former three kebeles of town (Goro Kerensa,
Burka Harbu and Birbirsa Siba) are most populous and though population settled in reformed
rural areas of; Galgal Kuyu, Burka Walmara, Sadamo, Meda Gudina, and Tulu Harbu are less
number. But, those areas reformed to urban administration forecasted to forecasting to where
urban growth altogether with the community at the fringe (HTAP, 2017). Like any other part
of Ethiopia, the population growth of this town is most alarming.
To conduct this research, both primary and secondary data will be collected. The primary
sources of data will be collected through questionnaires distributed to women entrepreneurs
and interviews conducted. The secondary data will be collected from books, annual report
magazines, websites and kinds of literature which may be relevant to the study.
26
3.4. Methods of Data Collection
Primary data will be collected through questionnaires which include both open-ended and
closed-ended questions for women entrepreneurs. The interview question will also design to
gather data through closed-ended questionnaires.
27
3.5. Population, Sampling Techniques, and Sample Size
The population of the study consists of target population 2,143 women entrepreneurs who
work in five sectors of MSEs and the researcher will select a sample of 96 women
entrepreneurs (Source: Holeta MSEs Office annual report 2010E, C). For selecting these
samples of entrepreneurs, stratified sampling will be used in which the five key sectors
women entrepreneurs are engaged in will be taken as strata to give equal chance to each
sector. The researcher will use stratified sampling because, the population is heterogeneous
in their initial capital, skills, number of labors and the infrastructure available in their
respective kebeles. The data will be collected from four kebeles based on random probability
sampling techniques after strata is selected, and random sampling constitutes a small number
of respondents will be selected from the total number of women entrepreneurs in MSEs. The
researcher will use the following formula to take sample size (the most used formula,
Yemane, 1967);
N
n= e=sampling error (10%)
1+ N ¿ ¿
2,143
n=
1+ 2,143 ¿ ¿
2,143
n=
1+ 21.43
2,143
n= n=95.542 ≈ 96
22.43
28
Table 3.1: Summary of sample size and percentages
29
3.6. Method of Data Analysis
To achieve the objectives of the study, the descriptive method will be used to describe and
interpret the details of women entrepreneurs’ in MSEs activity depending on the type and
nature of data being gathered from the structured questionnaires.
Table 3.2: Summary of women entrepreneurs’ in population MSE and a sample size
1 Manufacturing 101 4
2 Construction 26 2
3 Urban agriculture 17 1
5 Trade 1256 56
Total 2143 96
30
CHAPTER FOUR
To manage the overall research process it needs a time budget. The tables have bellow shows
that the time that will be taken from topic selection to the final presentation.
No Activity Oct Nov De Jan Feb Ma Apr May Jun July Aug
c r e
1 Topic selection X
2 Preparation of research X X
proposal
3 Recommendation of X
comments to 1st draft of the
proposal
6 Data collection X
7 Data analysis X
10 Submission of a final X
research
31
11 Presentation X
To undertake the research process effectively and efficiently, it is necessary to prepare a cost
budget. The table given below shows the cost that is expected to be incurred in the research
process.
32
REFERENCES
Amha and Admassie (2008). Challenges of women entrepreneurs in Ethiopia, Addis Ababa.
APEC. (1994).The APEC Survey on Small and Medium Enterprises: Member Report of
FDRE Ministry of Trade and Industry. (1997).Micro and Small Enterprises Development
Strategy. Addis Ababa.
FDREPCC. (2008).Summary and Statistical reports of the 2007 population and housing
census: population size by age and sex.
Hirsch, R.D. (2011).Entrepreneurship: New Venture Creation.5th edition. Tata McGraw Hill,
New Delhi.
33
International Finance Corporation (IFC) annual report 2014: big challenges, big solutions:
Main report
Mahbub, U.H. (2009).Human Development Centre. Human Development in South Asia: The
Gender Question (Oxford University Press).
National Bank of Ethiopia. (2002). Quarterly Bulletin of the National Bank of Ethiopia. No.
19(3), 23-29.
Negash, Z. &Kena, T. (2003).State, Growth, and Dynamism of Micro and Small Enterprises
in Mekele, Ethiopia. A report produced for the Department of Economics of Mekele
University, Ethiopia. Michele: Mekele University.
OECD. (1997). Entrepreneurship and SMEs in Transitional Economies: the Vise grad
Conference. OECD Proceedings. Paris.
OECD. (2002).The Keys for Successful Women Entrepreneurs. The OECD Bologna Process.
December 2002.
Tsegaye, Tsehay (1997): "Banking the Unbankables." The IGAD Member States.
UNECE. (2004). Women’s Self Employment and Entrepreneurship in the ECE region:
background paper prepared by the secretariat for the Regional Symposium on
34
Mainstreaming Gender into Economic Policies. Geneva. 28-30 January 2004. Retrieved on
18-5-10 from http://www.unece.org/indust/sme/ece-sme.htm.pdf.
Washington, DC.
35
APPENDIXES
Jimma University
College of Business and Economics
Department of Economics
Questionnaire
This questionnaire is designed to investigate the Factors Affecting Women Participation in
Micro and Small Scale Enterprises in Holeta town. The researcher is asking to request to
cooperate by giving your response to the following questions. Your response will be treated
with a confidential, please, circle on each of your choice and with your answer on the space
provided. Besides, the researcher would like to be grateful to the respondents to the
sacrifices they paid in completing this questionnaire.
Note: No need of writing your name;
1. Age:
A, less than 20 B, 21-30 C, 31-40 D, >41
2. Educational level:
A, Can’t read and write B, Grades 1-4 C, Grades 5-8 D, Grades 10 complete
E, 10+1 &10+2 F, 10+3 /diploma G, BA and above
3. Marital status:
A, Single B, Married C, Widowed D, Divorced
4. Work experience:
A, Less than 5 year B, 6-10 year C, 11-15 year D, more than 15 year
5. Family size:
A, Less than 3 B, 4-5 C, More than 5
6. What your type of activity (in MSE) you involve?
A, Construction B, manufacturing industry
C, Urban agriculture D, Trade E, Service sector
7. Who initiated and started the business?
A, myself alone B, with the family C, with a friend/partner D. Other
(specify)...............................................................
8. How did you acquire the skill for running your enterprise?
32
A, through formal training B, from past experience
C, from family D, other (specify).....................................................................
9. How much your initial capital?
A, 1,000-3,500 B, 3,501-6,000 C, 6,001-8,500 D, More than 10,000
10. What was your main source of start-up funding?
A, Personal saving B, Inheritance C, Borrowed from relatives or friends/money
lenders D, Micro-finance / Bank E, Equb F, Assistant from friends/relatives
G, Assistant from NGO’s H, Others
(specify)................................................................................................................
11. Why did you prefer to start your own business?
A, Family tradition B, To be self-employed C, Brings high-income D, Education
E, Small investment is required F, No other alternative for incomes
G, Government policy H, Others
(Specify)...................................................................................
12. A number of employees in the enterprise?
A. Less than 5 B. 6-10 C, 11-15 D, more than 15
13. What are the challenges you face during starting your own business?
A, Finance B, Land C, Infrastructure D, others
(specify)................................................
14. How many profit you get monthly in average?
A, 300-800 B, 801-1,300 C, 1,301-1,800 D, 1,801- 2,300 E, >2,301
15. Do you think the business has changed your life?
A, Yes B, No
16. If your answer to question number '15' is yes how you explain your change?
......................................................................................................................................................
..............................................................................................................................
17. Do you think female employee leaves their job frequently than males?
A, Yes B, No
18. If your answer to question number '17' is yes why?
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………
19. Many people say that learning has an important role in resale merchandise. Do you agree
with this idea?
A, Agree B, Don't agree
33
20. If your answer question for number ‘19’ is agree how?
......................................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................
21. For the motive of your work, there are any supports you get from the government?
A, Yes B, No
22. If your answer to question number '21' is yes what kind of support? A,
Money, B, Moral support C, Training D, and Create a market opportunity E, others
(specify)..............................................................................................................................
23. What do the governments perform to strengthen women’s entrepreneurs in the town?
………………………………………………….…….
…………………………………………………………………………......................................
..............................................
Interview Questions
A. Economic factors
1. Are you satisfied with the financial access given by micro finances and other lending
institutions?
A, yes B, no C, partially
2. Have you access to a market for your products?
A, yes B, partially
3. Is Interest rate charged by micro finances and other lending institutions in reasonable?
A, yes B, no
4. Have your own premises (land) to run your business?
A, yes B, no
5. Is there the supplies of necessary inputs (raw materials) are available?
A, yes B, no C, partially
6. Is the tax rate levied on your business is reasonable?
A, yes B, no
B. Social factors
1. Is there any prejudice, class biases and cultural influences?
A, yes B, no C, partially
2. Is the attitude of other employers towards your business is positive?
A, yes B, no C, partially
C. Legal and administrative factors
34
1. Have you business assistants and supporters from government bodies?
A, yes B, no
2. Is there legal, institutional and policy constraints?
A, yes B, no C, partially
3. Have you access to get different business training from TVETs?
A, yes B, no C, partially
4. Have you easily got a license?
A, yes B, no
35