Formalization of Ethiopian women entrepreneurs from the informal sector through the implementation of capacity- building program: the case of women entrepreneurs in selected zones in SNNPR, Ethiopia

ABSTRACT

The main aim of this study was to transform women’s informal trade into formal by implementing a Capacity-building Program (CBP). A total of 258 women entrepreneurs were randomly selected from six randomly selected zones in the SNNPR using a two-stage sampling method. The data were collected through Paper Assisted Personal Interview (PAPI) technique. Interview and FGD with government officials and some selected women were conducted. The collected data were analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively. Quantitative data were analyzed through descriptive and inferential statistics and the qualitative data were analyzed through a thematic approach. The study revealed that there is a moderate implementation of CBP and lack of CBP is the main constraint for the formalization of the informal sector process and CBP has a positive role for the formalization of the informal sector.

KEYWORDS:

• capacity–building program
• women
• informal sector
• formalization
• implementation

Acknowledgments

We are very grateful to the women entrepreneurs and the government officials who participated in this study for their honest and cooperative response to all the questions solicited in this research. We would also like to thank Dilla University, Research and Dissemination Directorate for the financial support we received to carry out the research project on which this article is based. Any errors that still remain in this article are, however, our intellectual responsibility.

Disclosure statement

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

Notes

1. FGD with urban job creation and development office experts.

2. Interview and FGD with government officials.

3. Interview and FGD with government officials.

4. Interview and FGD with government officials.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Dilla University under grant number DU/R&DPC/2019/05