Women's Entrepreneurship: A Comparative Study of Russia and Niger

Women were previously not engaged in creating businesses, however today we see that they are more and more involved in entrepreneurship but with limited opportunities compare to men which represent some of the factors or challenges that hamper them to be engaged in entrepreneurship at that same level as men. This is a comparative study of women entrepreneurship in Russia and is Niger. The main objective of this study was to investigate and compare the opportunities female entrepreneurship has and the obstacles they faced in 2 different economies (Russia and Niger) to develop practical implications for them in both countries. The study answered four research questions, what are the opportunities and obstacles of female entrepreneurship in Russia, and Niger? What are the main reasons for involvement in entrepreneurial activities in both countries? What are the main sources of financial support in Russia and Niger? What are the managerial Implications for Russian and Nigerien women-led businesses? What can women entrepreneurs in both countries learn from each other? The study utilized quantitative and qualitative data such as: Interviews, open sources, and a survey to collect data with a sample of 250 participants from Niger and 70 from Russia. The data were analyzed using the statistical package for social science (SPSS) software. In the results of the study new findings emerge. Findings on Russia shows that Network contacts, Start-up Incubators and accelerators, Professional Seminars and Workshops for awareness are among the non-financial support as opportunities for women and some financial one, see page (46-48). However, the results also revealed that the lack of financial support is still a hindrance to women entrepreneurs. Cultural prejudices, fear of failure and success, financial literacy, and corruption mostly in Niger are among the obstacles. This study contributes to the ongoing literature on the field of our study in Russia and Niger, some managerial implications were given according to the current situation of women entrepreneurs in concerned countries, Study has also emphasized that Russia has more favorable economic conditions, environment, and laws that favor women into starting businesses as compared to the current situation in Niger and finally, this study has informed the governments and other relevant agencies and institutions in both countries of the insufficiency in their contributions to female entrepreneurship so that they can redouble their efforts to create an enabling environment and conditions for women to become more involved in successful start-ups.