Women's Enterprise Development in Eritrea through Microfinance
The ICFAI University Journal of Entrepreneurship and Development, Vol. 5, No. 3, pp. 41-58, September 2008
19 Pages Posted: 31 Oct 2008 Last revised: 7 May 2015
Date Written: September 10, 2008
Abstract
Women play a key role in economic growth and development, yet they are still discriminated against in economic life. Eritrea has extreme poverty and more than 66 percent of people live below poverty line. Eventually, the number of poor households in the country is high. Many are women-headed households, whose husbands died during the conflicts or who are now serving in the National Service. Women-headed households are particularly vulnerable. The Savings and Micro Credit Program (SMCP) provides major microfinance to women entrepreneurs. A small group of women and men were interviewed to ascertain their successes and problems with micro credit and enterprise development. This paper delves how the women benefited from the microfinance program and got rid of their poverty. An attempt is made to explore and analyse various other institutions that provide microfinance to the women and other beneficiaries. The paper concludes that the women entrepreneurs are considerably supported and benefited by the microfinance program
Keywords: Eritrea, Microfinance, Women entrepreneurs, poverty, economic development
JEL Classification: G21, I31, O16, Q12
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation