Abstract:
This study was designed to assess the Challenges that affect the performance of women
entrepreneurs. A sample of 162 women entrepreneurs engaged in 5 sectors was taken for the
study using stratified and simple random sampling. In the process of answering the basic
questions, a questionnaire that include demographic profiles, characteristics of women
entrepreneurs and their enterprises, challenges that affect the of women entrepreneurs. After
the data has been collected, it was analyzed using simple statistical techniques (tables and
percentages) and descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviations).The results of the
study indicates the personal characteristics of women entrepreneurs in MSEs and their
enterprise affect their business 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 challenges that affect the
performance of women entrepreneurs business in MSEs. The study also found that conflicting
gender roles, social acceptability and ,network with outsiders were the major social
challenges that affect these entrepreneurs .Furthermore, the main legal/ administrative
Challenges include access to policy makers, high amount of tax and interest, bureaucracies
and red tapes, and over all legal and regulatory environments. The study also found that
even though Training Institutions provide technology, machine maintenance, technical skill
training and facility supports, co operations in the areas of business related trainings are poor.
Based on the major findings, recommendations were forwarded to existing and potential
entrepreneurs, MSEs, Micro finances and training Institutions educators.
