Challenges facing international projects for entrepreneurial development in South Africa

Abstract

International development projects that support entrepreneurship face a number of challenges, not least because they need to integrate different paradigms. Based on the case study of a Canadian non-governmental organisation in South Africa, this paper provides an exploratory assessment of these challenges and highlights four major factors that affect the success of such international projects: transposing a northern business model to the south; developing local roots and adapting to the local context; balancing the allocation of resources between managing the project and providing services to entrepreneurs; and aligning the cultures of the private sector and international development agencies. In practical terms, the findings provide benchmarks for the success of these projects and could help improve interventions that encourage entrepreneurship in developing countries.

Keywords:

• entrepreneurship
• project management
• non-governmental organisation
• international development
• South Africa

Additional information

Funding

This study was funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada [grant number 430-2011-025].