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15.0 The state of research on women in MSES in Tanzania: Support for Growth-oriented Women Entrepreneurs in Tanzania, 2005

Guest post by: International Labour Organization

Article Overview: There is more available research on women entrepreneurs in Tanzania than in Ethiopia and Kenya. One of the major reasons for this is the presence of the Entrepreneurship Centre at the University of Dar es Salaam (UDEC).

15.0 The state of research on women in MSES in Tanzania: Support for Growth-oriented Women Entrepreneurs in Tanzania, 2005

There is more available research on women entrepreneurs in Tanzania than in
Ethiopia and Kenya. One of the major reasons for this is the presence of the
Entrepreneurship Centre at the University of Dar es Salaam (UDEC). Although the
most significant studies of women entrepreneurs were produced with support from the
ILO-WEDGE Programme (UDEC, 2002; ILO, 2003), researchers at UDEC have
produced gender studies of female and male start-ups (Nchimbi, 2003), as well as several
contracted research studies of enterprise development support (Olomi and Nchimbi,
2002; UNDP, ILO and UNIDO, 2002). This research is complemented by a number of
small sample studies (discussed in Mlingi, 2002, pp. 59-61), including an analysis of
gender patterns in the informal sector using data from the NISS 1991 and DISS46 1995
surveys. However, there are a number of serious gaps in the knowledge base, among
which are the following:

• Lack of current countrywide data on the number, make-up, size and economic/social
contributions of women in micro, small, medium and large enterprises. Since the 1991
and 1995 surveys, there has been dynamic growth in the MSME sector; however,
there is no way to even estimate how much of that growth might have been
contributed by a growth in the number and size of women’s enterprises.
• No data on their business entry, survival and growth rates.
• No comprehensive demographic profiling of women who own enterprises and of the
enterprises they own.
• No evidence of recent large-scale comparative studies of women and men in MSMEs.
• Limited studies on the factors affecting the start-up conditions of women-owned
MSMEs.
• No comprehensive studies on women and business growth.
• Inadequate research/data on the financing of women’s enterprises at different stages of
growth.
• Absence of research on the differential impacts of micro-finance, BDS and training
initiatives on women in comparison to men.
• Incomplete gender-disaggregated breakdowns of micro-finance borrowers.

In addition, there is limited sharing of lessons and good practices learned in
improving the performance of women’s enterprises.
The absence of large-scale, up-to-date national surveys of the MSME sector
prevents a full understanding of the situation of women entrepreneurs in the make-up of the MSME sector, as well as their contribution to the overall economy. Furthermore, the
data and information that does exist paints a consistent picture of the challenges,
obstacles, and barriers faced by women in MSMEs. Additional and more comprehensive
research is direly needed on this sector of the economy, both to inform policy actions and
to create more awareness of this segment of the MSME sector among donor groups,
service providers and the public at large.

15.1. Recommended actions – research agenda

Pertinent to the analysis presented above, it is recommended that:
(i) systematic gender disaggregated data on MSEs be collected (by the MIT-SME
Section, together with an appropriate statistical agency of the Tanzanian
government)and made available on a continuous and regular basis.
This data could form the basis of a regular (annual) report on the state of women in
MSEs in Tanzania.

(ii) a strategic, collaborative research agenda be developed to fill gaps in knowledge
about women in MSEs and that funding be sought to implement the research
programme (MIT-SME Section, ILO, donors).
As a starting point for the research agenda, it is proposed that a comprehensive
nationwide primary study on women entrepreneurs in Tanzania be completed to further
complement the exploratory research that was supported and commissioned by the ILO.
The study would include a comprehensive analysis of the financing challenges and
practices of women at each stage of growth, so as to better inform all actors in the
financing sector, and some comparative analysis of the MSE experiences of women and
men. The findings of the research should be published and disseminated widely among
relevant organizations and stakeholder groups, including women entrepreneurs’
associations.

(iii) That impact/case studies of initiatives targeted specifically to women-owned MSEs be
undertaken and the results shared with NGOs, donors, BDS providers, and other
relevant parties, in order to accelerate the transfer of good practices in supporting the
development of women’s enterprises.

(iv) efforts be made to build UDEC’s research capacity in the area of MSEs and women’s
entrepreneurship as a complement to government/donor efforts to enhance the
knowledge base necessary to inform appropriate policy actions.

(v) a women’s entrepreneurship research symposium be held to share approaches to
researching women entrepreneurs and to generate more sustained, broad-based
interest. Both international and Tanzanian scholars would be invited.

Related Articles
  1.2 Mission Objectives: Support for Growth-oriented Women Entrepreneurs in Tanzania, 2005
  8.0 Promotion of women’s entrepreneurship: Support for Growth-oriented Women Entrepreneurs in Tanzania, 2005
  4.0 The state of women’s enterprises in Tanzania: Support for Growth-oriented Women Entrepreneurs in Tanzania, 2005
  1.3 Methodology: Support for Growth-oriented Women Entrepreneurs in Tanzania, 2005
  1.1 Background and Introduction: Support for Growth-oriented Women Entrepreneurs in Tanzania, 2005

Article Tags: available research, exploratory research, gender studies, ILO, ILO, Tanzania, Tanzania, UDEC, University of Dar es Salaam, women and men, women and men, women entrepreneurs, women entrepreneurs



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