According to a World Bank report “Profiting from Parity : Unlocking the Potential of Women's Business in Africa,” launched last March, women entrepreneurs make or are obliged to make different decisions than men because of gender-specific constraints. As a result, the report notes that, on average, women-owned firms post profits that are 34 % lower than male-owned firms and have fewer employees and lower sales. The report identifies strategies to address these constraints, including psychology-based skills development programs to encourage more entrepreneurial mindsets, supporting women with savings mechanisms and providing large capital grants as part of business plan competitions.
Download the report here.