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

See all articles by Ravinder Rena

Ravinder Rena

Papua New Guinea University of Technology; North-West University; Namibia University of Science and Technology; University of the Western Cape

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

Rena, Ravinder and Rena, Ravinder, Women's Enterprise Development in Eritrea through Microfinance (September 10, 2008). The ICFAI University Journal of Entrepreneurship and Development, Vol. 5, No. 3, pp. 41-58, September 2008, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1292115

Ravinder Rena (Contact Author)

Papua New Guinea University of Technology ( email )

Private Mail Bag 411
Lae, Morobe 411
Papua New Guinea

HOME PAGE: http://www.unitech.ac.pg

North-West University ( email )

Hoffman Street
Potchefstroom, 2520
South Africa
2745 (Fax)

HOME PAGE: http://www.nwu.ac.za

Namibia University of Science and Technology ( email )

13 Storch Street
Private Bag 13388
Windhoek, Khomas 13388
South Africa
2745 (Fax)

HOME PAGE: http://www.nust.na

University of the Western Cape ( email )

Private Bag X 17
Economics, Faculty of Economic and Management Scie
Bellville, Western Cape 7535
South Africa
0027219593624 (Phone)
2745 (Fax)

HOME PAGE: http://www.uwc.ac.za

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
328
Abstract Views
1,769
Rank
167,515
PlumX Metrics