Women Entrepreneurs in the Gambia: Challenges and Opportunities

Journal of International Development, Vol. 18, pp. 1051-1064, 2006

14 Pages Posted: 5 Apr 2011

See all articles by Christine Phillips

Christine Phillips

University of Reading

Marina Della Giusta

University of Reading - Department of Economics; IZA

Date Written: March 10, 2006

Abstract

This article reviews the literature on women entrepreneurs in developing countries and presents evidence from a case study undertaken during 2001 and 2002 in Gambia examining the challenges facing women entrepreneurs in the small enterprise sector. The article attempt to discuss the gendered nature of the barriers to survival and growth, particularly the low productivity of sectors in which women entrepreneurs operate, the difficulty in accessing capital for expansion and the need to reconcile business with domestic activities and the propensity to view business as part of an overall livelihood diversification strategy. The article argues that further to addressing specific gender needs of women entrepreneurs, policy and support mechanisms must be sensitive to and geared towards both enterprises with potential and aspirations for growth and diversification and those whose primary objective is that of sustaining livelihoods.

Keywords: Africa, Gambia, small enterprises, entrepreneurship, gender

Suggested Citation

Phillips, Christine and Della Giusta, Marina, Women Entrepreneurs in the Gambia: Challenges and Opportunities (March 10, 2006). Journal of International Development, Vol. 18, pp. 1051-1064, 2006 , Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1803423

Christine Phillips

University of Reading ( email )

Whiteknights
Reading, Berkshire RG6 6AH
United Kingdom

Marina Della Giusta (Contact Author)

University of Reading - Department of Economics ( email )

Whiteknights
Reading, RG6 6AH
United Kingdom
+44 (0)118 378 5068 (Phone)

HOME PAGE: hhttp://www.reading.ac.uk/hedgehogs/about/staff/m-DellaGiusta.aspx

IZA ( email )

P.O. Box 7240
Bonn, D-53072
Germany

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