FEMALE ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND LIVELIHOOD MAKING IN CHIGUMULA, BLANTYRE AND THABWA, CHIKWAWA DISTRICTS IN MALAWI

Abstract

Small scale businesses in Africa and other developing countries play an important role in creating employment opportunities and improving the lives of women. Therefore, the objective of this study is to investigate the contribution of female owned enterprises to livelihood making in Malawi. The study also examines the factors that affect performance of female owned enterprises. The study used the mixed methods (qualitative and quantitative) approach to collect data from female entrepreneurs. The probability (simple random sampling) and non-probability sampling (snow balling) techniques were used to select the respondents. The research findings reveal that, some Non-Governmental Organisations support female entrepreneurs with start-up capital as part of empowerment through income generating activities. The main entrepreneurial activity supported by NGOs is farming, and this is where many female businesses are concentrated. While research in Africa shows that most female businesses are found in less paying activities in the SME sector, this research reveals that many female entrepreneurs in Malawi occupy some profitable enterprises. Despite this, most female enterprises are faced with some challenges that hinder their good performance. The study has the policy implications to improving performance of female enterprises. The study suggests that government should take a leading role in promoting female businesses. The relevant ministries should assist female entrepreneurs with affordable loans for procurement of technology. In addition, entrepreneurs should be trained to use modern marketing platforms, and assisted with establishment of potential market opportunities, locally and internationally.