ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the motivations, challenges, and opportunities of African women as they set out to own and manage their businesses. It details some of the peculiarities of the African context and their implications for African women entrepreneurs. Of the 54 countries in the region, 46 have been categorized as Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA); hence the focus of this chapter is on SSA. A major difference between African women entrepreneurs and their Western counterparts lies in the area of funding. Coupled with the lack of knowledge and discrimination issues aforementioned, women entrepreneurs in SSA have to contend with bureaucratic processes in setting up their businesses, accessing loans, and getting contracts. It highlights the unique situation of women entrepreneurs in Africa a unique population characterized by high necessity, high participation rates, low fear of failure, yet low performance. Barriers related to gender not only hinder economic progress but slow down society.
