Palgrave Studies of Entrepreneurship in Africa – serie

Africa suffers from two main diseases: poor management and a lack of vibrant entrepreneurial activity. The continent has the raw materials, the people, and the potential to be developed, and yet there remain barriers that prevent it from bettering itself. To promote entrepreneurship as an engine of economic development and growth, the author has developed a Quintuple Helix Model which advocates mutual cooperation and information sharing among the five helices and provides valuable guidelines to policymakers on how to build entrepreneurship ecosystems in sub-Saharan Africa. It goes on to examine the roles that government, donors, and public and private sectors play and how Africans themselves might take the development of entrepreneurial societies into their own hands. The book includes seven chapters that emphasize the key role that each of the five components could play in the development of entrepreneurial ecosystems. Entrepreneurship scholars, policy makers, and national and local governments of sub-Saharan Africa will value this insight as they strive to create a more favorable landscape for their citizenry.

This book is open access under a CC BY 4.0 license.Presenting rigorous and original research, this volume offers key insights into the historical, cultural, social, economic and political forces at play in the creation of world-class ICT innovations in Kenya. Following the arrival of fiber-optic cables in 2009, Digital Kenya examines why the initial entrepreneurial spirit and digital revolution has begun to falter despite support from motivated entrepreneurs, international investors, policy experts and others. Written by engaged scholars and professionals in the field, the book offers 15 eye-opening chapters and 14 one-on-one conversations with entrepreneurs and investors to ask why establishing ICT start-ups on a continental and global scale remains a challenge on the “Silicon Savannah”. The authors present evidence-based recommendations to help Kenya to continue producing globally impactful  ICT innovations that improve the lives of those still waiting on the side-lines, and to inspire other nations to do the same.

This pioneering collection seeks to understand why and how some digital enterprises in Africa progress while others firms either stagnate or regress. Using a range of detailed case studies, it addresses the challenges and barriers that are in place and how some outstanding digital firms deal with operating in a hostile business environment. While digital platforms have created equal access for small businesses, many digital entrepreneurs in Africa continue to struggle with local environments replete with corruption, and other economic inefficiencies. The contributions move the debate forward by addressing the challenges, opportunities, and prospects of digital enterprise in Africa. Placing special emphasis on how African new entrant digital firms are shaping the landscape and forging a new beginning for Africa, this book offers entrepreneurial perspectives to both researchers and policy-makers seeking to support and stimulate entrepreneurship in the new era.

This book outlines the unique challenges and opportunities of doing business in Africa, analysing how varying degrees of development across its countries affects entrepreneurship. Taking into account historical and cultural contexts, the authors approach the topic by evaluating the different possibilities of business opportunity in Africa. Insightful contributions explore an extensive range of African countries, discussing both formal and informal entrepreneurship, as well as the different factors that influence the growing economy of Africa. African Entrepreneurship will be of interest to anyone researching the potential of doing business in Africa, as well as entrepreneurs and policy-makers looking to expand their knowledge on how businesses are managed in this region.

Examining the experiences of Africans setting up businesses back home, the main focus of this book is to establish the economic, social and psychological reasons for such ‘home direct investment’. Despite the personal sacrifices that are often needed in order to set up new ventures, the diaspora invests relentless effort and motivations in the pursuit of home ventures. The authors explore critical areas such as the social and psychological pressures that African Diasporas experience when investing in their home countries, as well as the management of diaspora businesses and the impact of such investment to local economies.

This book explores how culture and tradition have impacted the tendency for African women to opt for entrepreneurship. The first section presents literature on the concept of entrepreneurship and introduces traditional African women entrepreneurs—the first-generation, culture-driven entrepreneurs, driven by the need to alleviate poverty within the family. The second section covers the modern, second-generation entrepreneurs driven by such forces as education, globalization, and technology. Further, the author assesses the regional perspectives on entrepreneurship and explores the entrepreneurial ecosystems to determine their relevance to the development of entrepreneurial spirit in Africa and among women in particular. This book expands on knowledge about the role that women play in the socio-economic development of the African continent.

This book explores how culture and tradition have impacted the tendency for African women to opt for entrepreneurship. The first section presents literature on the concept of entrepreneurship and introduces traditional African women entrepreneurs—the first-generation, culture-driven entrepreneurs, driven by the need to alleviate poverty within the family. The second section covers the modern, second-generation entrepreneurs driven by such forces as education, globalization, and technology. Further, the author assesses the regional perspectives on entrepreneurship and explores the entrepreneurial ecosystems to determine their relevance to the development of entrepreneurial spirit in Africa and among women in particular. This book expands on knowledge about the role that women play in the socio-economic development of the African continent.

This book places special focus on the importance of trust building, particularly in economies where formal legal arrangements are lacking. Taking the case of Africa, the author provides a framework of how indigenous institutions specify and define the rules, thereby allowing entrepreneurship to thrive. In particular, the book delves into the distinct evidence of institutional rivalry within Africa where competing institutions co-exist, leading to the emergence of dominant hybrid institutional forms. By placing enforcements at the heart of the issue, the author makes a convincing case for trust in a range of indigenous institutional arrangements.Based on an investigation of entrepreneurs operating across West Africa, the book explores how indigenous arrangements are sufficient in enforcing credible commitments to agreements. In the process, the author argues that trust is essential in stimulating entrepreneurial incentives in Africa. The book brings the real-world situation of local actors in live situations that almost every African entrepreneur can identify with. In a bold new step, the book attempts to show how African entrepreneurs have been able to respond to the specific socio-economic challenges of their environment and raises questions about the role of alternative indigenous institutions. For those interested in African studies, the book’s chapters and readings capture fresh insights and renewed enthusiasm for African entrepreneurship.

This book places special focus on the importance of trust building, particularly in economies where formal legal arrangements are lacking. Taking the case of Africa, the author provides a framework of how indigenous institutions specify and define the rules, thereby allowing entrepreneurship to thrive. In particular, the book delves into the distinct evidence of institutional rivalry within Africa where competing institutions co-exist, leading to the emergence of dominant hybrid institutional forms. By placing enforcements at the heart of the issue, the author makes a convincing case for trust in a range of indigenous institutional arrangements.Based on an investigation of entrepreneurs operating across West Africa, the book explores how indigenous arrangements are sufficient in enforcing credible commitments to agreements. In the process, the author argues that trust is essential in stimulating entrepreneurial incentives in Africa. The book brings the real-world situation of local actors in live situations that almost every African entrepreneur can identify with. In a bold new step, the book attempts to show how African entrepreneurs have been able to respond to the specific socio-economic challenges of their environment and raises questions about the role of alternative indigenous institutions. For those interested in African studies, the book’s chapters and readings capture fresh insights and renewed enthusiasm for African entrepreneurship.

This book analyzes the significant obstacles facing women traders in marketplaces in Ghana and proposes policy recommendations that would enhance economic development. The editors first characterize these challenges as jolts and develop a comprehensive typology of jolts that the market women face. They then provide a detailed analysis of the social justice implications associated with the jolts.  Next, subject area experts thoroughly depict the different types of jolts that market women face and highlight current policies and strategies used by national and local government authorities to deal with these jolts. Finally, the editors highlight recommended policies and strategies that can be used to successfully address the effects of the various jolts encountered by market women. Women traders operating in the Ghanaian marketplace unquestionably play a significant role in the development of the national economy. This book, therefore, aims to raise awareness of these jolts, identify several recommendations to mitigate them, and, by so doing, help address social injustices and aid in national development.

Institutional Entrepreneurship in African Fintech explores how technology ventures build legitimacy, navigate institutional voids, and sustain growth in Africa’s fast-evolving financial landscape.Blending scholarly insight with practical application, it introduces the Change Readiness Framework, which highlights three essential entrepreneurial capabilities—Customer Orientation, Collectivism, and Commitment to Impact—and seven corresponding pillars of institutional entrepreneurship. Together, these elements offer a grounded model for understanding how African innovators transform fragmented systems into functional markets.Drawing on original fieldwork and case studies across the continent, the book bridges academic rigor and practical relevance, offering scholars, entrepreneurs, investors and policymakers a blueprint for studying, building and funding trustworthy, scalable, and socially grounded innovation ecosystems.Chapter 19 is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). For further details see license information in the chapter.

This edited volume tracks emerging perspectives to understanding contemporary and future-oriented trends relating to entrepreneurship in Africa. Following recent developments, such as the rising interest in Pan Africanism, and socio-economic developments with several African countries emerging as new regional hotspots for economic growth and entrepreneurship (e.g. Nigeria, Egypt), chapters provide case-based evidence and relevant theorisation in order to account for aspects of the emerging realities in Africa. While much of the existing literature takes an overarching economistic approach, in this book contributors do not overlook the necessity for constantly providing evidence and updating such frameworks. Instead, authors take an in-depth look at emerging perspectives to African entrepreneurship, which are currently overlooked and merit further investigation from a theoretical standpoint. Featuring context-based analysis, theoretical and conceptual approaches, case-based material as well as original interviews, the book is a vital resource for students, researchers and policy makers.

Examining the experiences of Africans setting up businesses back home, the main focus of this book is to establish the economic, social and psychological reasons for such ‘home direct investment’. Despite the personal sacrifices that are often needed in order to set up new ventures, the diaspora invests relentless effort and motivations in the pursuit of home ventures. The authors explore critical areas such as the social and psychological pressures that African Diasporas experience when investing in their home countries, as well as the management of diaspora businesses and the impact of such investment to local economies.

This book outlines the unique challenges and opportunities of doing business in Africa, analysing how varying degrees of development across its countries affects entrepreneurship. Taking into account historical and cultural contexts, the authors approach the topic by evaluating the different possibilities of business opportunity in Africa. Insightful contributions explore an extensive range of African countries, discussing both formal and informal entrepreneurship, as well as the different factors that influence the growing economy of Africa. African Entrepreneurship will be of interest to anyone researching the potential of doing business in Africa, as well as entrepreneurs and policy-makers looking to expand their knowledge on how businesses are managed in this region.

This book analyzes female entrepreneurship in the textile sector in Africa as a phenomenon that favors the social integration and economic development of women in certain geographical areas. It identifies entrepreneurship as an avenue through which women can escape the feeling of being trapped in the home and assert their independence while providing for their families. In the field of fashion, female entrepreneurs in resource-rich Africa have significant opportunities through knowledge of natural resources and cultural traditions, as the use of natural fabrics and original designs is one of the latest trends. This book provides a framework for how African women can develop sustainable fashion enterprises, offering an original and lasting contribution to the field of entrepreneurship.