The role of information and communication technology in women entrepreneurship development: a case of Songea municipality.

This study explored the role of ICT in women entrepreneurship development in Songea municipality Ruvuma region, southern Tanzania. Specifically, the study aimed at investigating capabilities of women entrepreneurs to use ICT in growing their micro business, finding out businesses development factors and their influence on strategies taken by women in the use of ICT in order to empower their entrepreneurship, examining the extent of the use of ICT in empowering women entrepreneurs to participate in business as well as assessing the role of ICT in women’s entrepreneurship development in Songea municipality. The study employed qualitative approach by using a case study design. The same involved 70 women respondents in entrepreneurship and was obtained by using simple random sampling technique. Relevant data was gathered by questionnaire, interviews and focus groups discussion which were analyzed by using statistical package for social sciences analysis. The findings revealed that, women entrepreneur in Songea municipality have low capability and insufficient knowledge in using ICT in growing their micro and small businesses. Furthermore, it indicates that, insufficient skills and experiences discourage them to use and apply ICT in their businesses, which in turn frustrated women entrepreneurs from getting benefits of ICT in growing their small business. Furthermore, the study finding revealed that, even though women entrepreneurs use ICT at low rate but ICT placed a great role in strengthening women entrepreneurship because they were enabled to access raw materials, markets, knowledge and information about demand and supply of produced products. The study also noted that, ICT reduces challenges regarding women conflicting roles, social acceptability and networking. Moreover, it revealed that, ICT facilitates online finance transactions, it opens doors to new suppliers and customers and created innovation and new knowledge of business among women entrepreneur, by using mobile phones, internet, television and radio. Based on these findings, the study recommends that, the government and private sector should strengthen cooperation in order to assist women entrepreneurs by providing and improving technical and financial assistance which in turn will create favorable environment for development of women entrepreneurship. Also the government should review and formulate appropriate policies for women entrepreneurs in order to provide opportunities for women entrepreneurs to develop and adequately benefit from local and international business using ICT.