Abstract:
The major objective of this research was to assess the major factors affecting the performance of women entrepreneurs in MSEs in the case of Amhara region Dessie City. The research tried to identify the key economic, social, legal and administrative factors that affect the performance of women entrepreneur. A descriptive survey research design was used a sample of 181 women entrepreneurs engaged in 4SCs was taken for the study using stratified sampling and purposive sampling .Data was collected from primary and secondary sources. A five point likert scale questionnaire and interview was used to collect primary data. After the data collected, it was analyzed using simple statistical techniques (tables and percentages) and descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviations). The results of the study indicate the personal characteristics of women entrepreneurs in MSEs and their enterprise affect their performance. It also shows that lack of land premises to run their business, financial access given by micro finances or other lending institutions, inadequate access to business training, stiff competition in the market place, access to technology and access to raw materials were the key economic factors that affect the performance of women entrepreneurs in MSEs. The study found that conflicting gender roles or household responsibilities, network with outsiders and social acceptability were the major social factors that affect these entrepreneurs. The legal and administrative bodies are required to create an enabling environment for the growth and development of MSEs, but this study found that access to policy makers, high amount of tax, network with administrative bodies, interest rate charged and over all legal and regulatory environments were the main factors that affect women entrepreneurs. The study also found that customer service training, marketing training, financial report training and entrepreneurship trainings were the main challenges of the entrepreneurs. Based on the major findings, MSEs, Micro finances and other government bodies mainly for 4SCs. to tackle the different economic, social/cultural and legal/ administrative bottlenecks they face, women entrepreneurs should make lobbies together to the concerned government officials by forming entrepreneurs associations.
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