Aberdeen Business School

Alternative Financing of Women Entrepreneurship: an Investigation of Resilience in Sub-Saharan African Region

Women entrepreneurs can significantly contribute to National GDP’s. In sub-Saharan African countries, inclusive entrepreneurship must be considered as part of poverty alleviation strategies. However, research identifies women entrepreneurs face unique challenges specifically with accessing finance. This study explores the intersection of feminism and women's entrepreneurship.

Award

MRes | MPhil | PhD | MSc by Research

Start Date

Usually February and October - at individual School's discretion

Research Opportunities

Summary

Women entrepreneurs have been identified as having potential to significantly contribute to National GDP’s particularly in developing context such as sub-Saharan African countries (Onoshakpor et al, 2024). However, research identifies that women entrepreneur within these contexts, face unique challenges specifically with accessing finance such as lacking collateral security, having no credit history (information asymmetry) (Simba et al., 2023; Onoshakpor et al., 2024; Irene et al., 2017), and face harsher credit application requirements (Ogundana et al., 2021). There have been several calls to consider context while investigating these underexplored group of entrepreneurs (Al-Dajani et al., 2021) and also to consider feminist perspectives as the baseline for investigating issues associated with gender and entrepreneurship (Ahl, 2006; Bruni et al., 2004). This study will build upon existing research and draw on literature that explores the intersection of feminism, gender, and women's entrepreneurship. Specifically, this research aims to develop theoretical explanations of the ‘no choice option’ of women entrepreneurs, their resiliency and explore the alternative financing methods available in the Sub-Saharan African Region.

Aims

There are dozens of studies on business financing issues for women entrepreneurs, but little research has been done on their counteractions. Using hybrid literature that integrates feminist perspectives, women entrepreneurship, and business financing methods, this research aims to develop theoretical explanations of the no choice option of women entrepreneurs, their resiliency and explore the alternative financing methods available in the Sub-Saharan African Region

Methods

This study proposes to utilise qualitative methods via semi-structured interviews to uncover the interplay between socio–cultural forces and women entrepreneurship financing. The data will be analysed using thematic analysis to enhance rigour in. Person Specification – the expected student should have an masters degree from any background. Any gender is welcome in the gender lab.