Empowering Women in Developing Countries
As women entrepreneurship plays an important role in the development and growth of developed countries, the importance of promoting women in economic activities is being increasingly realized in all developing countries, too. Empowering women by bringing them into the mainstream of development and by improving their economic status and providing them with new employment opportunities for income generation, self-employment and entrepreneurship in different socio-economic sectors is noticeable.
Experience demonstrates that there are a large number of women in most developing countries, capable of and willing to be involved in economic activities. An important tool of women empowerment is micro credit, which has been accepted as an effective tool for poverty alleviation and an approach to development. Micro credits have become exceptionally popular especially in developing economies.” A specific solution for solving women’s difficulties in obtaining financing has been micro financing. Micro finance appears therefore to offer a “win-win” solution, where both financial institutions and poor clients benefit (Murdoch, 1999). “
Women in Africa today represent 52% of population that is 805 million. Therefore, they should be seriously considered and investment made towards their education as well as in their employment in the formal sector of the economy. Micro credits are especially important for starting their own businesses, considering the increasing interest among women who tend to become or already are entrepreneurs. Studies of Yoruba women in Nigeria, has revealed all of the attributes of women entrepreneurs. These women have been engaged in commercial or trading activities since pre-colonial times (Akinwumi, 2000). Akinwumi mentioned two types of women entrepreneurs: “Aljapa” (who are itinerant traders) and “Alarobo” (who are described as petty traders). Actually, they are described as very prudent businesswomen. These women have started to take important political positions in their environments, thus increasing their status and positions due to the wealth gained through trading activities. Interestingly, these women entrepreneurs started micro or small businesses with minimum finances and without sufficient knowledge about new businesses. This research also shows that women develop their businesses but mostly in informal sector with certain exceptions.
According to United Nations Development Program (UNDP), 2004, it could be concluded that Africa has only 6% of female work force on higher positions, like managers and executives in larger companies. In addition, 23% of women in Africa work in service branches and 5% had employed in industry. Namely, women in Africa, work in agriculture and in food production 5 and much less in non-agricultural branches. This is understandable, because there is on the one side the deficit of food in many African countries and on the other side, there is woman’s need to support and to help family to survive. Accordingly, women do very hard work without specified working hours on the estate, by doing household work, selling on the market, etc. Despite that, African women still did not gained respect in society which they, by their work engagement, deserve.
Beside difficult working conditions, African women face another problem. According to statistical data from, Addis Ababa-based Economic Commission of Africa (ECA) – provide around 58% of all African women are HIV infected (Akinwumi, O ,2000) .Despite this problem, a number of women still manage to fight for greater rights and to take part in politics in their countries. These women have demonstrated their abilities and showed that they should be seriously considered as important in the political and economic spheres in their societies. Therefore, nongovernmental organizations around the world are now creating and implementing projects to encourage entrepreneurship as a pathway out of poverty. Many programs specifically target women in Third World countries. This organization has helped dozens of low-income women start their own businesses.
Experience demonstrates that there are a large number of women in most developing countries, capable of and willing to be involved in economic activities. An important tool of women empowerment is micro credit, which has been accepted as an effective tool for poverty alleviation and an approach to development. Micro credits have become exceptionally popular especially in developing economies.” A specific solution for solving women’s difficulties in obtaining financing has been micro financing. Micro finance appears therefore to offer a “win-win” solution, where both financial institutions and poor clients benefit (Murdoch, 1999). “
Women in Africa today represent 52% of population that is 805 million. Therefore, they should be seriously considered and investment made towards their education as well as in their employment in the formal sector of the economy. Micro credits are especially important for starting their own businesses, considering the increasing interest among women who tend to become or already are entrepreneurs. Studies of Yoruba women in Nigeria, has revealed all of the attributes of women entrepreneurs. These women have been engaged in commercial or trading activities since pre-colonial times (Akinwumi, 2000). Akinwumi mentioned two types of women entrepreneurs: “Aljapa” (who are itinerant traders) and “Alarobo” (who are described as petty traders). Actually, they are described as very prudent businesswomen. These women have started to take important political positions in their environments, thus increasing their status and positions due to the wealth gained through trading activities. Interestingly, these women entrepreneurs started micro or small businesses with minimum finances and without sufficient knowledge about new businesses. This research also shows that women develop their businesses but mostly in informal sector with certain exceptions.
According to United Nations Development Program (UNDP), 2004, it could be concluded that Africa has only 6% of female work force on higher positions, like managers and executives in larger companies. In addition, 23% of women in Africa work in service branches and 5% had employed in industry. Namely, women in Africa, work in agriculture and in food production 5 and much less in non-agricultural branches. This is understandable, because there is on the one side the deficit of food in many African countries and on the other side, there is woman’s need to support and to help family to survive. Accordingly, women do very hard work without specified working hours on the estate, by doing household work, selling on the market, etc. Despite that, African women still did not gained respect in society which they, by their work engagement, deserve.
Beside difficult working conditions, African women face another problem. According to statistical data from, Addis Ababa-based Economic Commission of Africa (ECA) – provide around 58% of all African women are HIV infected (Akinwumi, O ,2000) .Despite this problem, a number of women still manage to fight for greater rights and to take part in politics in their countries. These women have demonstrated their abilities and showed that they should be seriously considered as important in the political and economic spheres in their societies. Therefore, nongovernmental organizations around the world are now creating and implementing projects to encourage entrepreneurship as a pathway out of poverty. Many programs specifically target women in Third World countries. This organization has helped dozens of low-income women start their own businesses.
As women entrepreneurship plays an important role in the development and growth of developed countries, the importance of promoting women in economic activities is being increasingly realized in all developing countries, too. Empowering women by bringing them into the mainstream of development and by improving their economic status and providing them with new employment opportunities for income generation, self-employment and entrepreneurship in different socio-economic sectors is noticeable.
Experience demonstrates that there are a large number of women in most developing countries, capable of and willing to be involved in economic activities. An important tool of women empowerment is micro credit, which has been accepted as an effective tool for poverty alleviation and an approach to development. Micro credits have become exceptionally popular especially in developing economies.” A specific solution for solving women’s difficulties in obtaining financing has been micro financing. Micro finance appears therefore to offer a “win-win” solution, where both financial institutions and poor clients benefit (Murdoch, 1999). “
Women in Africa today represent 52% of population that is 805 million. Therefore, they should be seriously considered and investment made towards their education as well as in their employment in the formal sector of the economy. Micro credits are especially important for starting their own businesses, considering the increasing interest among women who tend to become or already are entrepreneurs. Studies of Yoruba women in Nigeria, has revealed all of the attributes of women entrepreneurs. These women have been engaged in commercial or trading activities since pre-colonial times (Akinwumi, 2000). Akinwumi mentioned two types of women entrepreneurs: “Aljapa” (who are itinerant traders) and “Alarobo” (who are described as petty traders). Actually, they are described as very prudent businesswomen. These women have started to take important political positions in their environments, thus increasing their status and positions due to the wealth gained through trading activities. Interestingly, these women entrepreneurs started micro or small businesses with minimum finances and without sufficient knowledge about new businesses. This research also shows that women develop their businesses but mostly in informal sector with certain exceptions.
According to United Nations Development Program (UNDP), 2004, it could be concluded that Africa has only 6% of female work force on higher positions, like managers and executives in larger companies. In addition, 23% of women in Africa work in service branches and 5% had employed in industry. Namely, women in Africa, work in agriculture and in food production 5 and much less in non-agricultural branches. This is understandable, because there is on the one side the deficit of food in many African countries and on the other side, there is woman’s need to support and to help family to survive. Accordingly, women do very hard work without specified working hours on the estate, by doing household work, selling on the market, etc. Despite that, African women still did not gained respect in society which they, by their work engagement, deserve.
Beside difficult working conditions, African women face another problem. According to statistical data from, Addis Ababa-based Economic Commission of Africa (ECA) – provide around 58% of all African women are HIV infected (Akinwumi, O ,2000) .Despite this problem, a number of women still manage to fight for greater rights and to take part in politics in their countries. These women have demonstrated their abilities and showed that they should be seriously considered as important in the political and economic spheres in their societies. Therefore, nongovernmental organizations around the world are now creating and implementing projects to encourage entrepreneurship as a pathway out of poverty. Many programs specifically target women in Third World countries. This organization has helped dozens of low-income women start their own businesses.
Experience demonstrates that there are a large number of women in most developing countries, capable of and willing to be involved in economic activities. An important tool of women empowerment is micro credit, which has been accepted as an effective tool for poverty alleviation and an approach to development. Micro credits have become exceptionally popular especially in developing economies.” A specific solution for solving women’s difficulties in obtaining financing has been micro financing. Micro finance appears therefore to offer a “win-win” solution, where both financial institutions and poor clients benefit (Murdoch, 1999). “
Women in Africa today represent 52% of population that is 805 million. Therefore, they should be seriously considered and investment made towards their education as well as in their employment in the formal sector of the economy. Micro credits are especially important for starting their own businesses, considering the increasing interest among women who tend to become or already are entrepreneurs. Studies of Yoruba women in Nigeria, has revealed all of the attributes of women entrepreneurs. These women have been engaged in commercial or trading activities since pre-colonial times (Akinwumi, 2000). Akinwumi mentioned two types of women entrepreneurs: “Aljapa” (who are itinerant traders) and “Alarobo” (who are described as petty traders). Actually, they are described as very prudent businesswomen. These women have started to take important political positions in their environments, thus increasing their status and positions due to the wealth gained through trading activities. Interestingly, these women entrepreneurs started micro or small businesses with minimum finances and without sufficient knowledge about new businesses. This research also shows that women develop their businesses but mostly in informal sector with certain exceptions.
According to United Nations Development Program (UNDP), 2004, it could be concluded that Africa has only 6% of female work force on higher positions, like managers and executives in larger companies. In addition, 23% of women in Africa work in service branches and 5% had employed in industry. Namely, women in Africa, work in agriculture and in food production 5 and much less in non-agricultural branches. This is understandable, because there is on the one side the deficit of food in many African countries and on the other side, there is woman’s need to support and to help family to survive. Accordingly, women do very hard work without specified working hours on the estate, by doing household work, selling on the market, etc. Despite that, African women still did not gained respect in society which they, by their work engagement, deserve.
Beside difficult working conditions, African women face another problem. According to statistical data from, Addis Ababa-based Economic Commission of Africa (ECA) – provide around 58% of all African women are HIV infected (Akinwumi, O ,2000) .Despite this problem, a number of women still manage to fight for greater rights and to take part in politics in their countries. These women have demonstrated their abilities and showed that they should be seriously considered as important in the political and economic spheres in their societies. Therefore, nongovernmental organizations around the world are now creating and implementing projects to encourage entrepreneurship as a pathway out of poverty. Many programs specifically target women in Third World countries. This organization has helped dozens of low-income women start their own businesses.
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