African Entrepreneurship and African Entrepreneurship and Reconsidering InformalityReconsidering Informality

Presented by: Yemisi Oloruntola

Gender Differences Gender Differences Men vs. Women TradersMen vs. Women Traders

Men

• Have wage jobs

• Have start up capital

• Few or no dependents

• Younger

• Permanent Nairobi residents

• Land

• Some education

Women

• Do not have wage jobs

• Very little start-up capital

• Many dependents

• Older

• Lack of land

• Lack of Education

Education and the Kenyan WomanEducation and the Kenyan Woman

• Difference in level of education 24% of women did standard 6 or 7, compared

with 33% of men 27% of women completed Form 1 or higher,

compared with 51% of men

Gender Difference in Profits and Gender Difference in Profits and LocalityLocality

• Men’s profits are 2x greater

• Men selling in the same area reap less profits than outside area

• No differences for women

• No difference in profits in locale for women

• Men reap more profits regardless of locale

Trade as a Survival Strategy for Trade as a Survival Strategy for WomenWomen

• Substantial family obligations

• Landlessness

• Widowed or Divorce

• Poverty

• Profit

Business as Usual?Business as Usual?

• Women likely to file bankruptcy

• Businesses are short and less prosperous

• Harassment from authorities

• Problems with supply

• Health

• Family

Family Vs. BusinessFamily Vs. Business

• Women spend less hours in trading Family obligations

CookingTaking children to schoolIllnesses

• Domestication has impact on women’s economic productivity

Entrepreneurs and Family Well-Entrepreneurs and Family Well-being in Cameroonbeing in Cameroon

Household income and its Positive Household income and its Positive effect on Family Well-beingeffect on Family Well-being

• Women income linked to family’s welfare

• Inconsistent relationship between income from commercial farming and families health

• Women’s occupational choice determines family well being

Linkages of Women’s Economic Linkages of Women’s Economic activity and Childrenactivity and Children

• Northern Ghana Women traders able to invest money into

children• Philippines

Women traders no time to feed their children nutritious foods

• India Women who earned more money children’s

health was poor

Study of Cameroonian FamiliesStudy of Cameroonian Families

• Research All women were married Had farmland Had two children between (24 and 60 months)

• MethodsParticipant observationKey informantFocus groupsQuestionnaire surveyChild anthropometry

ResultsResults

• Children from the producers were lighter and shorter

• Entrepreneurs children were heavier and taller

• The entrepreneurs had greater variety of food

Potato HarvestPotato Harvest

• Harvest begins in late June and ends in October

• In a good year women farmers can make huge profits

• Money spent on education and health

• Men unwilling to pay for children education

Constraints to FarmingConstraints to Farming

• Urbanization

• Renting

• Increased production of labor

Trading and Marketing Foster Trading and Marketing Foster Improved Child WelfareImproved Child Welfare

• Market and trading women purchased more food items Fish, groundnuts, egusi (squash seeds), dried

corn, flavoring cubes, and spices High in nutrients Worked in “food enriched” environments Enhanced children’s diet and welfare

ConclusionsConclusions

• Women’s income helps families

• Women entrepreneurs provide nutritious foods

• Children’s education and welfare

• Need more support and education

Sharing Public Space: Sharing Public Space: Immigrant Fishermen and a Immigrant Fishermen and a Multinational Oil CompanyMultinational Oil Company

Research SettingResearch Setting

• Pointe-Noire in Congo-Brazzaville

• 2nd largest city

• Today, predominately oil based

Main ThesisMain Thesis

• Fishermen changes the socio-spatial patterns

• Public space and the oil company

• Legal system and authorities

Advantages to the Coastal LandAdvantages to the Coastal Land

• Proximity to main markets

• Public facilities

• Water supply

• Schools

• Military posts

Attractive to Oil CompaniesAttractive to Oil Companies

• Infrastructure Electricity Roads Water Military posts

Non-FishermenNon-Fishermen

• Were outnumbered

• Had an alliance with the fishermen

• Thrived from the fishermen

• Satisfied food demand

Informality in Land Allocation and Informality in Land Allocation and Housing DevelopmentHousing Development

• Zoning

• Corruption

• Courtyards

• Use of public utilities

Economic Role of the WomenEconomic Role of the Women

• Micro-enterprises Fish smoking Petty retailers (oil, sugar, salt, etc) Restaurants

The Presence of the Oil CompaniesThe Presence of the Oil Companies

• Affected fishing practices Canoes colliding with ships Damage to nets Noise produced by engines Environmental changes Increase in price of fish

ConclusionsConclusions

• Harmony fishermen and the locals

• Participation in local decisions

• Generated jobs for the Congolese