Entrepreneurship development in Africa: an overview
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/WJEMSD-06-2013-0033 |
| Date | 12 July 2013 |
| Pages | 82-86 |
| Published date | 12 July 2013 |
| Author | Allam Ahmed,Sonny Nwankwo |
| Subject Matter | Public policy & environmental management |
Entrepreneurship development
in Africa: an overview
Allam Ahmed
Middle Eastern Knowledge Economy Institute (MEKEI),
Brighton Business School, Brighton, UK and
SPRU – Science and Technology Policy, School of Business,
Economics and Management, University of Brighton, Brighton, UK and
University of Sussex, Brighton, UK, and
Sonny Nwankwo
Royal Docks Business School, University of East London, London, UK
Abstract
Purpose – This paper aims to provide an over view of the different key factors that are influencing
and influenced by the entrepreneurship environment in Africa.
Design/methodology/approach – The paper represents the outcome of many comprehensive
research programmes undertaken in different countries in Africa and other parts of the world adopting
various research methods and approaches.
Findings – The most profound and encouraging change in African economies over the past decade
has been the rapid advancement towards integration into the global economy. Many of the countries
have undertaken significant economic reforms; improving macroeconomic management, instigating
conducive private investment climate, liberalizing markets and widening the space for entrepreneurship
to drive strong and inclusive growth. However understanding the nature of problems, challenges and
opportunitiesin Africa is a very difficult task for manypeople outside its territories.
Originality/value – Despite the regional coverage of the various issues relating to entrepreneurship
development on Africa, it is not possible to have contributions from few countries in the region such as
Chad, Somalia, etc., due to the current situation is these countries.
Keywords Entrepreneurship, Africa, Sustainable development, Sub Saharan Africa,
Entrepreneurialism
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
The tumultuous macroeconomic, social and political reforms which nearly all African
countries embarked upon during the past three decades have not delivered the desired
outcomes when measured against the principal indices fo r sustainable development
(see e.g. economic report United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA),
2008, 2009). Progress towards the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals
(MDG) has been patchy and less than robust. Most of the counties have continued to
backslide in the grandiose ideals espoused in their respective nationa l development
plans and forward-planning vision statements aimed at propelling their economies
from the margin to the mainstream global economy.
Essentially, Africa represents one of the world’s most intractable development
challenges, with its peculiar and seemingly insurmountable environmental inhibitors,
rangingfrom very high transportation costs,small markets,low agricultural productivity,
very high disease incidences, environmental despoliation, adverse geopolitics and very
slow diffusion of strategic technology from abroad. Not too long ago, the United Nations
Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO, 2003) observed that people in Africa living
in absolutepoverty (earning less than $1a day) rose from 42 to 47 per centbetween 1981
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available at
www.emeraldinsight.com/2042-5961.htm
World Journal of Entrepreneurship,
Management and Sustainable
Development
Vol. 9 No. 2/3, 2013
pp. 82-86
rEmeraldGroup PublishingLimited
2042-5961
DOI 10.1108/W JEMSD-06-2013-00 33
82
WJEMSD
9,2/3
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