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Since the outbreak of the Libyan war, migration transport has changed. But although conditions for Tuareg trans-border business became more difficult, it will continue on as before.

Although 90% of businesses in Sub-Saharan Africa’s markets are small and medium enterprises (SMEs), they do not play a significant role in current GDP growth. However, SMEs can lead a much-needed economic diversification, explore new sectors and b...

Female participation in entrepreneurial activities is higher in Sub-Saharan Africa than in any other region. But is this a success story for the integration of women in the labour market?

When it comes to enterprise support, there is a discrepancy between the frameworks offered by NGOs and how people in the communities want to operate. 

There is limited knowledge about what does and what does not work to boost SME growth and create jobs. We need to keep searching for better answers.

SME assistance must be tailored to meeting the specific needs of entrepreneurs.

Breaking the ‘paradox of education’ is a precondition for improving the growth of African small enterprises.

Young people represent more than 60% of Africa's population. Entrepreneurship, if supported through the right policies, can provide an effective solution to persistent youth unemployment.

What makes a strong formative stage for SMEs? Public sector intervention, argues Hilary Nwokeabia.

Innovative early stage ventures that potentially have a high social and environmental impact, but require less than €1 million in capital are the most difficult segment of the SME pipeline to reach. Yet their potential for growth is immense.

Skill gaps and effective pairing of education with labour market needs remain one of the most pressing obstacles for SME development in Africa.

Can Africa’s rural economy create enough jobs for predominantly young job-seekers?

When the Dutch private sector is involved in development in Africa, a dilemma may arise. The Dutch government claims that businesses could have a positive impact on local economic development on the continent in the longer term. But do their activ...

Assistance to small and medium enterprises only makes sense if it addresses the key constraints for SMEs and allows them to grow into larger and more productive enterprises.

Four main characteristics of the private equity model are crucial to drive SME development in developing countries.

Support to SMEs in fragile and conflict-affected states has become a priority for the international development community. Yet thorough analysis of the broader institutional context in which these SMEs operate is needed to explain inequalities in...

How informal micro and small enterprises can (if they should at all) make the transition into formal enterprises and how this would affect their growth and employment structure

Of 48,000 African migrants in Israel, the majority are asylum seekers from Sudan and Eritrea. If it is done right, entrepreneurship can play a vital role in integrating these refugees into Israeli society and responding to market niches.

Entrepreneurship is ubiquitous in rural Africa. But why do rural households operate non-farm enterprises? How productive are they? And why do they exit the market?

Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) are a new learning phenomenon in the world of higher education and digital technology. Especially for developing countries, they are portrayed as a great opportunity for free education, boosting the employabilit...

Egypt has invested in its female labour force since the 1960s. Yet women-led businesses remain rare. Alia El Mahdi provides insight into the underlying challenges and gives policy recommendations for the effective promotion of female entrepreneurs.

Migrants and remigrants are especially likely to start their own businesses. But do they have the skills and knowledge that will allow them to access market niches and contribute to local economies?

Business training programs are a popular tool used by policy-makers to promote SME growth. However, recent evidence suggests that these programs rarely lead to firm growth or job creation. What do we know about how to effectively support SME devel...

After microfinance, the ‘missing middle’ is the new buzzword for SME development experts. Klaas Molenaar recommends to take a look into the history of microfinance to question the hype.

Trade unions in Africa have struggled to effectively include informal workers. In their stead, informal worker's associations have taken over.

Upgrading a micro enterprise to a small or medium-sized business requires more than a good business environment.