Role of women enterprise fund loans, capacity building and networking on the performance of women-owned enterprises in Thika Town, Kenya.
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Date
2015-12
Authors
Mukura, Doris Nkio
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kenyatta University
Abstract
The government of Kenya, having appreciated the contribution of women owned Small
and Micro Enterprises towards achieving the country's development goals have put up
initiatives that include the Women Enterprise and Development Fund to finance and
support women owned SMEs among other interventions. However, despite these
interventions, performance of women owned enterprises have been deteriorating with
seventy eight percent of all failed businesses being those owned or operated by women.
Additionally women owned enterprises continue to record poor performance compared
to male owned enterprises. This study analyzed the role of WEDF loans, capacity
building and networking on the performance of women owned enterprises in Thika
town. The objectives of the study were to: determine the role of WEDF loans on the
performance of women 'owned enterprises; establish the role of capacity building on the
performance of women owned enterprises; and establish the role of networking on the
performance of women owned enterprises. Stratified random sampling technique was
used to identify a sample of 281women owned enterprises and a questionnaire was used
to collect data. Descriptive research design was adopted for this study and Pearson's
Product Moment correlation test was carried out to determine the degree and type of
relationship between the Loans, Capacity building and networking on the Performance
of women owned enterprises in Thika town. The study findings indicate that loans
acquired from WEFD do help improve enterprise performance through, enough stock of
products for the demand of customers, improve products portfolio, increase retained
earnings and satisfactory profit to maintain women enterprises. It was also found out
that WEFD Capacity building and networking played a very important role since
training impacted on new skills and knowledge which were useful for customer service,
appropriate business management strategies and also improved the perception of
aspiring women to expand/start-up new businesses. Networking provided an
opportunity for women to access more capital for enterprise performance and also share
a better understanding for business environment. Based on the findings of the study, it is
recommended that women should appreciate and access the WEDF loans and attend
trainings to improve their business management skills. Women should also be
encouraged to participate in social groups which also give them an opportunity to
access more capital for enterprise performance.
Description
Research project submitted to the school of economics in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the award of master of economics degree of Kenyatta University. December,2015