Like this article? PLEASE +1 it! Evan Signature
Evan Carmichael Top Header
Share for a Cause









4.1.1 Constraints faced by women in the MSE sector: Support for Growth-oriented Women Entrepreneurs in Tanzania, 2005

Written by: International Labour Organization

Article Overview: Women in the MSE sector face a number of serious obstacles.

Free Download - References: Learning to change: Skills development among the economically vulnerable and socially excluded in developing countries By International Labour Organization
Name: Email:

4.1.1 Constraints faced by women in the MSE sector: Support for Growth-oriented Women Entrepreneurs in Tanzania, 2005

Women in the MSE sector face a number of serious obstacles. Among these are:
gender-blind or gender-insensitive macroeconomic policies; complex tax policies and
compliance procedures; gender-based inequalities in employment policies and
regulations; complex business registration and licensing procedures for the smallest
micro-enterprises (where the majority of women are found); lack of cultural acceptance
for the role of entrepreneurship for women; limited access to appropriate business
premises; limited access to BDS; lack of collateral due to property ownership practices;
lack of access to term loans and sufficient working capital to meet their needs (the gap
between the micro-finance ceiling and the minimum loan requirements of banks); and the
limited organizational and management capacity among women’s advocacy groups
(UDEC, 2002). In addition, women face a number of gender-related problems: a lack of
property rights over assets; lack of confidence in women by bank officers;
discouragement from men when starting or formalizing businesses; social restrictions
regarding networking with men in business; and suppliers sometimes insisting that they
deal with the entrepreneur’s husband when decisions are being made (ILO, 2003).

The UDEC (2002) report divided women entrepreneurs into three groups,
depending on the structure and size of their enterprises, and noted that each of these
groups faces a slightly different set of constraints (see Figure 2). Consequently, each
segment would require different kinds of assistance and special interventions to address
their unique constraints.

This pyramidal structure is similar to the ones constructed for the Ethiopia and
Kenya country chapters. The vast majority of women in Tanzania operate in the informal
economy, employing only themselves; a smaller number operate as formal microenterprises,
and a very small number operate as small enterprises. What is clear is that
the larger the size of the enterprise, the fewer the women in it.

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
  1.0 Overview: Gender Entrepreneurship and Competitiveness in Africa, 2007
  6.1 The informal sector: Gender Entrepreneurship and Competitiveness in Africa 2007

Home > African-Accounts > International Labour Organization > 411 Constraints faced by women in the MSE sector Support for Growthoriented Women Entrepreneurs in Tanzania 2005
Article Tags: business registration, gender blind, micro enterprises, UDEC, women entrepreneurs

About the Author: International Labour Organization
RSS for International's articles - Visit International's website

As the world's only tripartite multilateral agency, the ILO is dedicated to bringing decent work and livelihoods, job-related security and better living standards to the people of both poor and rich countries. It helps to attain those goals by promoting rights at work, encouraging opportunities for decent employment, enhancing social protection and strengthening dialogue on work-related issues. The ILO is the international meeting place for the world of work. We are the experts on work and employment and particularly on the critical role that these issues play in bringing about economic development and progress. At the heart of our mission is helping countries build the institutions that are the bulwarks of democracy and to help them become accountable to the people. The ILO formulates international labour standards in the form of Conventions and Recommendations setting minimum standards of basic labour rights: freedom of association, the right to organize, collective bargaining, abolition of forced labour, equality of opportunity and treatment and other standards addressing conditions across the entire spectrum of work-related issues.

Click here to visit International's website
Dashed Line

More from International Labour Organization
53 Harnessing the potential and sharing the stresses of economic integration Working Out of Poverty
17 Promoting entrepreneurship Working Out of Poverty
521 The MITSME section Support for Growthoriented Women Entrepreneurs in Tanzania 2005
112 Ensuring incomes and basic social security Working Out of Poverty
118 Building bridges Working Out of Poverty


Related Forum Posts
Re: Why aren't there more women entrepreneurs? Re: Why aren't there more women entrepreneurs? - My opinion on this (being a women, and being disabled), is; Women in general like security. Women are the caretakers, in general. In the work environment we are the one to have children. We are the ones who leave work to do this. We deal with a stigma that we are bad mothers if we work, but we are a bad mother if we do not work. I feel there is no way a man could ever understand this. Sure they can try, and some do a good job of it, however they truly do not understand. How could they?? Being a entrepreneur is throwing cation to the wind. It takes believing in yourself. It takes a women who can have someone say no, put us down or just plan old negativity and for us to turn it around. Women who can do this are called names, while men in the business world are just expected to have a thick skin. Studies show in the work environment that women are more apt to be bullies. Women are more apt to turn on each other. We expect more out of each other. Many women also use the work environment to socialize and to find a mate. Men and women are not created equal. Once we understand this and take what we are and "run" with it; the better all of us will be. Women business owners, women entrepreneurs are still considered a minority. Since there are more women then men in this world, some day this will turn around. This too is why men need to protect themselves and keep us under some kind of control. What bothers me to no end is when women give in to the mans world using sex as a selling tool. We need strong women leaders, not those who use their bodies as a step up. This is just my opinion on this subject.
A ton of Great Women A ton of Great Women - You might want to profile Teresa Cascioli of LakePort Brewery. She has an amazing story! I met her at at the celebratory luncheon for the Profit/Chatelaine Top 100 Women Business Owners. The Top 100 list is also a great resource for inspirational stories of Women Entrepreneurs.
Re: History of Women in Business in the United States Re: History of Women in Business in the United States - Yes. Women have increasingly made positive economic contributions to society and their position is being recognized more and more as seen on the Forbes List of Executive Women. In general, women can be a bit more practical in their approach as entrepreneurs too.
Looking for business partners. Looking for business partners. - Hello Entrepreneurs, I'm new to this forum. I am from India and looking for business partners and mentors for my ongoing business venture since last five years. Now we are expanding our business with different countries. The business is related to the Software development / website designing / ecommerce solutions /online marketing sector. Anyone who has management skills, entrepreneurship skills or who has experience in the software development sector, feel free to contact me. I am open to any discussion/suggestion and about my plan. Let’s get this business started.
Re: History of Women in Business in the United States Re: History of Women in Business in the United States - Nice read. I feel a few things were left out. At a time in American history it was illegal for a women to do many things. Not only did they need a man to stand up for them, but they needed him to sign bank documents etc.. for the women in question. Not long ago in our history a women did not have a bank account. This was a slap in the face for the woman's husband or father. My state of Oregon is supposedly had a very strong women, a madam, contribute to the establishment of our state. Of course this is seen as a very old business but a business a women were able to run in the back alleys, and as I have read, in the underground here in Oregon. Mileva Mari? was a women in our history that in her own right contributed to America with her mathematics and physics smarts. Born disabled and "homely", her rich parents sent her to many fine schools where she was (it has been said), the only women in these establishments. Since her father did not think she would ever get married seeing how she was, I bet he was a happy camper when Albert Einstein married her. I feel, with no hesitations if it were not for Mileva Mari?, Albert would not be in the history books as he is now. I feel since in the day women were not supposed to have a brain, nor be allowed to publish their own work, that her husband took her work and published it as his own. The Pendleton Roundup , (a huge rodeo here in Oregon), banned women from the rodeo due to "unlady like" behavior around the 1900's. Hence barrel racing took hold as the ONLY women event. In WWII women were the ones who were the welders etc.. women were the ones to take on the jobs of men who were fighting for our country. Once the war was over, women had to relinquish their jobs to the men. One such women was in my sons family, and I got to hear first hand how things were. I like to bring up Emily Dickinson as well, as for women who changed who women are. Women helped establish equal rites here in America. Women along with the black society fought for equal rites. A white women had the same rites as a black person here in America, thus it was only common sense to help with the equal rites movement. Again running into a women who was there. I feel Oprah Winfrey is passing down a history of strong women. Strong women who have always been. She has just stepped it up to modern times. Women rites is not a white nor black issue, it is a women, man issue. Women have done so much for America, sorry to say to find information which gives credit where credit is due when the husband is a big name, or when the establishment is huge, it takes some digging. Women in history have done bigger and better things than the girls of today are taught in schools. Bigger and better then beauty products, or cooking. Women have been, and always will be the back bone of America and American Business.


Share this article with your friends. Fund someone's dream.

Leave a comment below or share on the left and you'll help support entrepreneurs in Africa through our partnership with Kiva. Over $50,000 raised and counting - Please keep sharing! Learn more.



Featured Article


Bottom Footer
Share for a Cause












Newsletter

Get advice & tips from famous business
owners, new articles by entrepreneur
experts, my latest website updates, &
special sneak peaks at what's to come!
Name:
Email:
Popular Articles

Email Marketing Made Easy #11 - Avoiding Spam

Small Business Internet Marketing

The True Cost of Employee Turnover

Suggestions

Email us your ideas on how to make our
website more valuable! Thank you Sharon
from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for
your suggestions to make the newsletter
look like the website and profile younger
entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez.