Background and aim: Environmental factors alone cannot determine the success of small, medium and micro-sized enterprises (SMMEs) and female entrepreneurs; there is a need to closely examine the internal factors that also contribute to business success. This is necessary because, despite the considerable government support and support of bodies interested in promoting gender equality in all areas (business included), 20% of female-owned businesses still fail annually. Consequently, even though, according to a report from the Department of Trade and Industry in South Africa, millions of Rands have been allocated to support female-owned SMMEs by way of government funding, training, grants and consultative support services, the failure rates of these female-owned businesses remain high. The main reason for this can be that over-dependence on these incentives often weakens rather than strengthens female entrepreneurs’ ability to manage their businesses and reduces their competitiveness by laying emphasis on external, contextual factors rather than internal, competence variables for success. Researchers in the past have suggested that focusing on the internal factors, especially the ‘people issues’ facing the entrepreneurs (in this case female entrepreneurs), may give the business a better chance of success.Design/methodology/approach: A ‘mixed-method’ approach, conducted in two parts, was adopted for this study and appropriate tools and techniques were used to collect and analyse the data drawn from a sample of female entrepreneurs in South Africa. The study applies culturally instantiated facets of the debate on gender entrepreneurship as part of a detailed and empirically sophisticated consideration of the status of female entrepreneurship within South Africa. The qualitative aspect utilised semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions. The quantitative aspect utilised survey questionnaires developed from the findings of the qualitative study.Results: All participants agreed that entrepreneurial competencies are vital for business success. The study also makes a clear distinction between the traits approach and competencies approach in understanding business success. Arguably, the competency variable is viewed and appreciated differently by female entrepreneurs in South Africa. The findings also showed some cultural variations in the application of entrepreneurial competencies among the four dominant racial groups in South Africa.Conclusion: This study offers a comprehensive analysis of the competency variable in understanding the factors that influence business success in the context of South African female entrepreneurs. It provides a basis for an agenda for focus on training and development of the entrepreneurial competencies of female entrepreneurs in South Africa.

Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are vital to economic growth, innovation, and job creation across Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Women entrepreneurs are key contributors to this sector, yet they face persistent barriers to accessing finance, which constrain their business growth and broader economic participation. This study investigates the role of financial institutions in closing the financing gap for women-owned SMEs and assesses the effectiveness of various financing mechanisms, including traditional banking, micro-finance, fintech innovations, and government-backed credit schemes. Adopting a quantitative approach, this study utilises structured surveys with women SME owners across multiple SSA countries. Supplementary secondary data from sources such as the World Bank and national financial statistics provide additional context. Econometric modelling and Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) are employed to identify key factors influencing loan accessibility, such as collateral requirements, interest rates, financial literacy, and the regulatory environment. Findings reveal that high collateral demands and interest rates remain major obstacles, particularly for smaller or informal women-led enterprises. Financial literacy emerges as a critical enabler of access to credit. While fintech solutions and digital lending platforms show promise in improving access, issues around infrastructure, regulation, and trust persist. Government-backed schemes also contribute positively but are hindered by implementation inefficiencies. This study offers practical recommendations, including the need for harmonised regional credit reporting systems, gender-responsive policy frameworks, and targeted financial education. Strengthening digital infrastructure and regulatory support across SSA is essential to build inclusive, sustainable financial ecosystems that empower women entrepreneurs and drive regional development.

As global economic activity gains momentum post-COVID-19, assessing local economic recovery remains essential for shaping policies that foster inclusive growth. In countries such as South Africa, which contends with enduring unemployment and significant inequality, cultivating economic resilience—particularly among Previously Disadvantaged Individuals (PDIs) and female entrepreneurs—is essential. The pandemic highlighted the crucial importance of digital technology in business resilience, as digitally equipped enterprises adapted more efficiently. Currently, the focus on digital adoption is intensifying, highlighting the necessity for equal digital access to enable women entrepreneurs to fully engage and prosper in the digital economy. This study builds on the ‘Advancement of Women in Technology (AWT) Framework’ and the ‘Adaptive Efficacy Model’ (AEM) to explore the capacity and readiness of women entrepreneurs to integrate digital tools into their operations. Additionally, it investigates how engagement with STEM-related fields can be enhanced to support women’s digital skills development and foster long-term adaptability. The findings reveal ongoing challenges: women entrepreneurs who lacked the digital skills to adapt quickly during the pandemic often became reliant on external support, sometimes losing control over essential functions such as financial management and, in some cases, their business ownership. For many women in Sub-Saharan Africa, digital adoption is still largely confined to social media marketing, limited by gaps in digital literacy, technological infrastructure, and support systems. This study emphasises the ongoing necessity of digital transformation for women entrepreneurs and the gender inequalities that persist in influencing digital access and proficiency. This research highlights the gendered obstacles to digital integration, emphasising the necessity of promoting UN Sustainable Development Goal 5 on gender equality and women’s empowerment, thereby addressing the digital gender divide amid rapid technological advancement.

Nigeria is currently grappling with an acute freshwater crisis, characterized by a stark contradiction where abundant water resources coexist with a widespread lack of access to safe and reliable water. This study examines the complex interplay of factors driving this crisis. It highlights how climate change and the degradation of critical infrastructure and water management systems have significantly reduced the resilience of freshwater systems. This study draws on survey data to assess public perceptions of water scarcity and its causes, revealing a public consensus on the impacts and challenges of freshwater scarcity. This finding points to the pervasive nature of water insecurity in the surveyed population and suggests that reliable access to freshwater remains elusive for many. The findings emphasize the need for integrated, climate-resilient policies that include ecosystem restoration, infrastructure modernization, pollution control, and inclusive, community-based governance frameworks. Addressing these multifaceted challenges is essential not only for improving freshwater access but also for advancing public health, reducing conflict, and fostering sustainable development. This research contributes to the growing body of knowledge on water security in the Global South and outlines pathways for transformative water governance in Nigeria.

Previous business research has highlighted the impact of government policy in the processes of formulating business strategies and in the decision-making process of organizations. In the South African context, a review of this impact on organizational strategy is for the most part important especially after the fall of apartheid as businesses have been saddled with widespread institutional change the purpose of which is to redress historic inequalities that characterized the apartheid regime. Specifically, the introduction of a far-reaching B-BBEE policy aimed at increasing participation of PIDs in economic activities. Previous researchers have been focused on the impact of B-BBEE policy on mergers and acquisitions, strategic decisions and value chain structures, as well as ROEs. The current report from STATS-SA indicates that the failure rate for women-owned businesses remains at a high rate despite the implementation of the B-BBEE policy. Therefore, research on the impact of B-BBEE on business strategy and success of female SMMEs operators may provide an accurate and deep understanding that will be beneficial to policymakers because of the social pressures to emphasis more on a 'broad-based' BEE (B-BBEE) policy aimed at increasing the participation of the black population (and in particular women) in economic activities as well as increasing the number of black ownership in businesses or creating employment for the black population. This study used appropriate data tools and techniques to analyze the data drawn from a sample of female entrepreneurs in South Africa. The study applies culturally instantiated facets of the debate on gender entrepreneurship as part of a detailed and empirically sophisticated consideration of the status of female entrepreneurship within South Africa. This paper involves an in-depth survey using the ten dimensions of business performance as a basis to study small South African women-owned businesses given that the approach is useful in the development of a theory in fields where not much research has been undertaken. The businesses studied for this research are based on a setting where B-BBEE program is a principal factor in the strategic framework of the South African female business owner. This paper contributes to existing literature on the implications of the B-BBEE program on SMEs by studying the relationship between business strategies, outcomes, and the B-BBEE program. DOI: 10.5901/jesr.2017.v7n1p145