Factors affecting growth of women entrepreneurial activities in Tanzania

This study sought to assess factors affecting growth of women entrepreneurial activities in Tanzania. Specifically, it analyzed the extent to which level of education, access to credit; family status and market availability affect the growth of women entrepreneurial activities. A survey method was used to extract information from women owners of business. Data were analyzed using frequencies. The results were presented in the form of tables and figures. The findings on this study reveal that education has a very significant effect on growth of women entrepreneurial activities. The finding show that women lack training in the business skills, planning, sales and products. From the study it has shown that most women business owner started business using their own savings. The study shows that women are still facing problems in accessing capital due to the requirement of collateral by financing institutions. This is really an obstacle. Combining business and family were also found to have negative growth of their business. Finally, on marketing availability it was found out that the growth of business can be facilitated by the availability of market. Women reported that they need training in area of marketing, such as how to acquire new market and identify market opportunities. Taken together, women entrepreneurial activities have low growth and need assistance in reaching expansion and growth. The study recommends that business women should be supported by assisting in searching for markets for their products and providing relevant training. It is also recommended that current high interest rates should be reduced to attract business women to borrow from financial institutions