Sudanese Women Entrepreneurs

Abstract

The number of female entrepreneurs is growing around the globe. The rate of women's entrepreneurship in Africa is higher than in any other region of the world but no studies have focused on North Sudan. We investigate female entrepreneurs in North Sudan by addressing these questions: (1) What are the major challenges North Sudanese female entrepreneurs face in (a) venture startup, and (b) running their businesses, (2) What are the main support sources enabling North Sudanese female entrepreneurs' (a) venture startup, and (b) successful management of their new ventures?, and (3) Is there family involvement in the North Sudanese female entrepreneurs' businesses; and if so, how? Personal issues, management skills, and obtaining financing are challenges while sources of support include schooling and previous work experience, moral support, and institutional support. Implications are discussed.

Work-Family Balance and Marketing Capabilities as Determinants of Chinese Women Entrepreneurs' Firm Performance

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The influence of perceived management skills and perceived gender discrimination in launch decisions by women entrepreneurs

“…Possessing good business skills is important for all entrepreneurs but particularly for female entrepreneurs because they frequently face structural barriers that make it more difficult to obtain resources (Apergis and Pekka-Economou 2010;Lerner et al 1997;Noguera et al 2013;Pathak et al 2013;Ramadani 2015;Welsh et al 2013). Lack of adequate business skills and other entrepreneurial capabilities negatively affects female entrepreneurs to a greater extent (Botha et al 2006;Carter et al 2015;Itani et al 2011).…”

Enabling private sector adaptation to climate change in sub‐Saharan Africa

“…In their recent research, Hampel-Milagrosa et al (2015) found that critical factors in the upgrading potential of micro and small firms to medium-and large-sized enterprises included not only the overall quality of the business environment, but also specific entrepreneur and enterprise characteristics, including the gender, education, experience, social capital, ambition, and risk readiness of enterprise owners. Bardasi, Blackden, and Guzman (2007), suggest that male and female-owned enterprises face very similar constraints in their business environment, but that some constraints, including crime, corruption, education levels, and access to finance, affect female-owned enterprises more severely (Bardasi et al, 2007;Brindley, 2005;Singh & Belwal, 2008;Sow-Sar, 2010;Welsh et al, 2013). In addition, traditional gender roles and associated discrimination that limit access to factors such as finance and land ownership can present significant additional barriers to entry into entrepreneurship for women (Desjardins & St-Onge, 2009;Mori, 2014;Mugabi, 2014).…”