Doing Business: Women in Africa
A new report from the Doing Business Project and the World Bank Gender Action Plan profiles seven women entrepreneurs, describing reasons for their success, as well as some of the legal, regulatory, and practical obstacles they faced in expanding their business efforts. The report was launched at a "Ways to Bridge Gender Gap" conference addressed by World Bank Group President B. Zoellick, German Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul, and Danish Minister for Development Cooperation Ulla Pedersen Tørnæs.Doing Business: Women in Africa (PDF, 4.15MB) also highlights reforms that can level the playing field for women and create better business environments that benefit both women and men.
The report, the first in a series of regional studies, casts a spotlight on seven women entrepreneurs in Cameroon, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, and Uganda.
Read their stories below:
Kah Walla (Cameroon) established a management consulting firm called STRATEGIES in Cameroon with an annual turnover of US$500,000, employing 15 workers and with business reach throughout Africa, Europe and the United States. For Kah, and most women in Cameroon, paying taxes is an obstacle. Janet Nkubana (Rwanda) founded the handicrafts company Gahaya Links in Rwanda that today has an annual turnover of US$300,000 and over 3000 employees with a business reach spanning Africa and the United States. Janet’s obstacle to doing business in Rwanda was trading across borders.Aissa Dionne (Senegal) started the interior design company called Aissa Dione Tissus in Senegal that today has an annual turnover of US$700,000 and over 100 employees with a business reach from Africa to Europe and the United States. Aissa’s obstacle to doing business in Senegal was employing workers.Sibongile Sambo (South Africa) founded SRS Aviation Ltd., an aviation services company in South Africa that has an annual turnover of US$5 million and 9 employees with a global business reach. Sibongile’s obstacle to doing business in South Africa was getting credit.Zoe Dean-Smith (Swaziland) began a homeware company in Swaziland called Gone Rural Pty Ltd. with an annual turnover of $600,000 and 731 employees with a business reach spanning Africa, Europe, and the United States. Zoe’s main obstacle was registering property. Dr. Victoria Ksyombe (Tanzania) started a financial services company in Tanzania, Sero Lease and Finance Ltd., with an annual turnover of $US 6 million and an employee base of 60 with 12 branches across Tanzania. For Victoria, getting credit was an obstacle.Julian Omalla (Uganda) established a juice manufacturing company in Uganda called Delight Ltd. that today has annual turnover of $3.9 million and 450 employees with a business reach spanning Uganda and Sudan. For Julian, starting her business was an obstacle.