Women's Entrepreneurship in the Central African Republic

Our study on women's entrepreneurship in the Central African Republic is based on the observation that financial constraints, the patriarchal nature of Central African society, the prevalence of common-law marriages, polygamy, early marriage, and customary institutions (which favor men in matters of inheritance, exert a strong influence on gender relations, and reinforce women's disadvantaged status) constitute the main obstacles to the development of women's entrepreneurship in the Central African Republic. The overall objective of the study is to determine whether women's entrepreneurship can generate income capable of reducing poverty in the Central African Republic. This study began with literature reviews combined with interviews with female leaders and founders of small and medium-sized enterprises in the Central African Republic. We concluded that women's entrepreneurship (if properly coached, supervised, and supported, etc.) has both direct (e.g., income redistribution to households through wages) and indirect (taxes paid to the Central African government) effects on poverty reduction in the Central African Republic.