Women Entrepreneurs in Africa

More and more women are starting new organizations, particularly new businesses generally in response to identified opportunities. Women’s entrepreneurship is expanding around the world. They represent more than one-third of all people involved in entrepreneurial activities and are likely to play an even greater role when informal sectors are considered.
Women become entrepreneurs for a variety of reasons, including personal and financial independence, self-fulfilment and gaining acknowledgement.Women entrepreneurs tend to re-invest in their communities, making them good development partners. Studies have shown that African women who possess economic means invest more in education, their families and communities. And women entrepreneurs typically create linkages with other women-owned firms in both rural and urban areas through formal and informal business networks.
It can be reasonably argued that African women are at the cutting edge of poverty and development and key to any poverty reduction strategy on the continent.
Excerpted from: Rahman, K. Financial Express. & Business in Africa