A Dissertation Submitted to Mzumbe University in Partial Fulfillment of the
Requirements for the Award of the Degree of Master of Science in
Entrepreneurship of Mzumbe University
Women entrepreneurs are already making important contributions to the industries
development of their countries. Despite their contribution, women face a variety of
constraints. The latter include poor access to market information, technology and
finance, poor linkages with support services, and an unfavorable policy and regulatory
environment. Due to that fact therefore the researcher investigated problem facing
women entrepreneurs at Kariakoo in Dar – es – Salaam. Specifically, the researcher
identified type of business of women entrepreneurs at kariakoo, identified the
constraints facing them, and determined the ways of eliminating the challenges.
In conducting this study, the researcher used case study design and the study involved
100 women entrepreneurs from Kariakoo . She collected and used primary data which
were collected through questionnaires and interviews. Since the study was qualitative
in nature, therefore, data were analyzed by using qualitative data analysis techniques.
The study revealed that, women entrepreneurs at Kariakoo were had different types of
business ventures which included 45 (45%) of the respondents were sole proprietors,
15 (15%) were in partnership, and 15 (15%) were owned companies, and 25 (25%)
were in cooperatives. Further analysis showed that women entrepreneurs were faced
lack of information 20 (20%), low level of education 15 (15%), impact of the legal and
policy framework 10 (10%), lack of finance support, 30 (30%) and family
responsibilities 25 (25%) were the challenges facing them.
It was recommended that the provision of education to entrepreneurs, financial
empowerment, creation of good business environment, and participation of men in
helping their wives are likely to eliminate or reduce the challenges facing women
entrepreneurs at Kariakoo and the rest of the country.