Learning from Entrepreneurship Programming for Women’s Economic Empowerment

Abstract

MUVA is a social incubator dedicated to developing innovative approaches to the economic empowerment of women in Mozambique. This paper documents experiences from two MUVA projects supporting women’s economic empowerment through entrepreneurship, and draws out broader insights and principles of relevance to other similar programmes. Barriers to women’s economic empowerment and strategies to overcome these barriers are both individual and systemic, visible and invisible. MUVA’s approach to supporting women’s economic empowerment through entrepreneurship involves tailoring three core elements to the specific context of different profiles of women business owners, including urban informal vegetable and fruit traders (MUVA+) and owners of small businesses with untapped growth potential (PAM). Both are groups of low-income female entrepreneurs that are rarely eligible for acceleration and entrepreneurship support. Core programme elements are technical skills, personal development and opportunity generation. However, the project results show that no particular intervention generates impact. Rather, what generates impact is how interventions are tailored to entrepreneurs’ specific business needs, responding to both the external context and internal constraints each group faces, through adapting methodologies that are more often used by formal businesses and policymakers. To achieve this, MUVA bundled interventions in ways that address both visible and invisible barriers and opportunities.

Harmonizing Progress: The Resounding Impact of Education on Women's Economic Empowerment

“…Reshi and Sudha (2023a) add to this enchanting narrative, emphasizing how economic development and increased educational opportunities in Asian countries empower women to seek paid employment outside their homes. This newfound marketability and employability elevate women's earning capacity, contributing to the household and national income (Thorpe et al, 2023).…”

“…Education becomes the key that unlocks the door to a fulfilling career, affording women the ability to provide for childcare and family needs. As Thorpe et al (2023) enmantingly assert, education equips women with the knowledge and skills essential for employment, transforming health and well-being in myriad ways.…”