Entrepreneuring in necessity contexts: effecting change among widow entrepreneurs in Northern Ghana

ABSTRACT

This article explores if and how the entrepreneuring efforts of an endogenous NGO can entrepreneurially empower widow necessity entrepreneurs living in extreme poverty in a rural area of Northern Ghana. In reconceptualizing necessity entrepreneurship as engagement in necessity contexts, three main context specific actions and processes were foregrounded: values-based action focus, upskilling by boundaried choice; and forming, organizing and maintaining symbiotic relationships. Subsequently, the extent to which these actions and processes contributed to empowerment were assessed and explained. Upon outlining how the research contributes to a more comprehensive understanding of entrepreneurship in necessity contexts and broadens our understanding of entrepreneurship, the article ends by discussing the research’s implications and limitations.

KEYWORDS:

• Entrepreneuring
• women necessity entrepreneurs
• Global South
• poverty

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1. Here life-world is defined as the domain within which people take action and that is influenced by dynamic social structures (Diochon 2003).

2. ‘An identity is an internal positional designation which represents meanings that actors use to define themselves’ (Morris et al. 2016, 8) “.