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This study was designed to assess the factors determining growth of women Small and Medium Enterprises in Tanzania. It also addressed the characteristics of women entrepreneurs in SMEs and their enterprises. A sample of 90 women entrepreneurs engaged in 5 sectors was taken for the study using purposive sampling technique, snow balling and convenient sampling technique. In the process of answering the basic questions, a questionnaire that include demographic profiles, characteristics of women entrepreneurs and their enterprises, factors that affect the performance of women entrepreneurs in SMEs and supports MSEs acquire from the Government was designed in closed ended and open ended questions. Moreover, interviews were held with trade officers of Ilala Municipal and micro finances. After the data has been collected, it was analyzed using simple statistical techniques (tables and percentages).
The results of the study indicates the personal characteristics of women entrepreneurs in SMEs and their enterprise affect their performance .It also shows that lack of own premises(land),financial access, stiff competition, inadequate access to training, access to technology and access to raw materials were the key economic factors that affect the performance of women entrepreneurs in SMEs. The study also found that conflicting gender roles, social acceptability and ,network with outsiders were the major social factors that affect these entrepreneurs .Furthermore, the main legal/ administrative factors include access to policy makers, high amount of tax and interest, bureaucracies and red tapes, and over all legal and regulatory environments.
The findings further indicate that, there exists linear and positive significant ranging from substantial to strong relationship was found between independent variables and dependent variable. Moreover, the selected independent variables may significantly explain the variations in the dependent variable. Based on findings, recommendations to government bodies, to women involved in SMEs and suggestions for other researchers are forwarded to help resolving the challenges facing women SMEs in Tanzania, specifically Ilala Municipal.
The researcher really hopes that output from this study shall be of practical use to women opening SMEs in Ilala Municipal,Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. |
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