The purpose of the study was to investigate the roles of entrepreneurship and small and medium-sized businesses in fostering local economic development. Based on this assumption, this conceptual study attempts to investigate the function of small and medium-sized firms in LED. According to studies, the entrepreneurial spirit of the SME owner is a significant determinant of a SME's ability to surmount survival challenges and achieve sustainable growth. The article also attempts to locate and establish the purpose of the study by identifying the barriers that small and medium-sized businesses encounter in their efforts to contribute to economic growth and offering potential solutions to these barriers. Due to inadequate infrastructure development and a lack of the fundamental capabilities to control and influence local economic growth, the study concludes that exceptional measures are necessary to overcome obstacles such as finance and service. The purpose of this study is to answer the research question of whether the emphasis should be placed on creating competent entrepreneurs, particularly among previously disadvantaged individuals, if the government's goal to leverage the SMME sector is to have any significant success. It was noted that the LED is essential but has not been utilized frequently. Using a qualitative thematic analysis approach, the study accessed data on both private and public spaces primarily through secondary sources. The qualitative investigation accessed the foundational literature via a sophisticated search. According to the study, small and medium-sized enterprises play a crucial role in the promotion of LED. The study concluded, among other things, that the local level of governance in South African municipalities is incapable of providing basic services and the necessary infrastructure.

Constant electricity supply enhances smooth running and performances of SMEs. However, electricity outages in Nigeria have been identified as one of the factors hindering SMEs’ performance. This study aimed at exploring the impact of electricity outages on the operations and contributions of SMEs to Nigeria economy. Hence, the study evaluated the impacts of electricity supply on the growth of SMEs in Nigeria. It analysed the hindrances that deficient electricity supply could have on the growth and development of SMEs. Survey method was employed to administer structured questionnaires to 110 SMEs operators in three local government areas of Mainland, Shomolu and Agege in Lagos state, Nigeria. Descriptive statistics was utilised to analyse the collected data. A chi square method was used to test the formulated hypothesis. Findings revealed that electricity outages have significant effects on SMEs in Nigeria. The study recommends among other things that, state and local governments should join hands with federal government in generating electricity to ensure stable electricity supply; cost-benefit back-up generating plant is also recommended to keep business operative.

Entrepreneurs in emerging and developing economies face many challenges curtailing their ability to finance and grow their business ventures. Climate change provides new opportunities for entrepreneurs to gain access to finance and contribute toward more climate-resilient economies. The objective of this chapter is to outline the dimensions of entrepreneurial financing that are sensitive to levels of climate change with emphasis on the financial services sector's role in reacting to these changes. An analysis of current extant literature will be explored, and evidence supporting effective entrepreneurial financing will be used to develop a theoretical framework for climate change and entrepreneurial financing to foster a more climatic conditions-sustainable economy. The literature in this chapter indicated the need for establishing the impact of climate change on entrepreneurial financing in the financial services sector in order to provide recommendations that can direct funding more effectively towards climate-resilient activities and a more climatic conditions-sustainable economy.

The uncertainties around the future of work has engendered and continue to provoke stimulating discussions amongst scholars interested in the dynamics of the world of work, and other allied researchers. While the construction of these uncertainties is not far-fetched, scholars have somewhat reached a consensus, that the emergence of globalization spanning over four decades ago, has further exacerbated the magnitude of these uncertainties. To be sure, the apologists of globalization have argued that the emergence of globalization, rather than prospering the future of work, has provoked several threats to the continued relevance of work, rather than progression.

Entrepreneurship education is broadly considered an important factor in promoting an entrepreneurial culture among higher education students. Considering the importance of entrepreneurship with regard to economic growth, job creation and poverty alleviation, there is a need to train entrepreneurs and to equip them with an entrepreneurial culture that promotes entrepreneurship. However, the South African education system is lacking when it comes to entrepreneurship education. The education system seems to promote the white-collar jobs rather than self-employment, and the methodology that is used to teach entrepreneurship studies, focuses more on the theory of entrepreneurship than on its practice. Against this background, this study sought to identify the challenges to develop and support entrepreneurship education by focusing on the University of Zululand as a case study. The researcher used primary data for this study. The study adopted a qualitative approach, where data was collected using interview schedules from 11 heads of departments of the university’s faculties. The results from the study show that the development of curriculum, inexperienced educators, and the methodology used to teach entrepreneurship education, are some of the challenges that are hindering the promotion of entrepreneurship education. A policy implication that arose from these findings, is that there is a need for the development of entrepreneurship-based curriculum to promote entrepreneurship. The policymakers were also encouraged to employ educators who are qualified and experienced in teaching entrepreneurship. The development of incubation centres for grooming entrepreneurs at higher learning institutions was also recommended.