Abstract:
This study investigates the major factors affecting the performance of women entrepreneurs in MSEs. It also addressed the characteristics of women entrepreneurs in MSEs and the challenges they face in the area of technical and business training. A sample of 193 women entrepreneurs engaged in 5 key 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 enterprises, factors that affect the performance of women entrepreneurs in MSEs was designed in a closed ended and likert scales. After the data had been collected, it was analyzed using simple statistical techniques (tables, percentage and charts) and descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviations). The result of the study indicates the personal characteristics of women entrepreneurs in MSEs and their enterprise that affect the entrepreneurs’ performance. It also shows that the economic factor which includes, lack of working capital, access to necessary input/raw material, the interest rate charged by micro finances. And also under strategic management factor, the management process that women entrepreneurs’ follow, working capital management practice, and the stiff competition they face in the market place were the major factor the study found. With regarding to infrastructural factors inadequate infrastructure and lack of their own premises (land) to run their business were found that affect the performance of women entrepreneurs in MSEs. The study also found the socio-cultural factor that includes better contacts (networks) with outsiders and the conflicting gender roles or household responsibilities. The major legal and administrative factors that affect women entrepreneur’s performance, legal and administrative bodies were required to create an enabling environment for the growth and development of MSEs, the bureaucracies red tapes they encountered, the amount of tax levied, the overall legal and regulatory favorable environment, access to network with different administrative bodies and policy maker were the major factors that affect women entrepreneurs. Based on the major findings, recommendations were forwarded to existing and potential entrepreneurs, MSEs, Micro finances, stakeholder, partners’ and other government bodies.
