WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS IN BENIN

Women entrepreneurs in the Beninese sphere Benin has a population of approximately 11,527,412 inhabitants according to estimates from the National Institute of Statistics and Economic Analysis (INSAE) in 2018 with a predominantly young population . Unlike other nations, Benin has a predominantly female population (51.5%). Women constitute an essential link for the Beninese economy. Paradoxically, they are often faced with several difficulties such as access to credit, land, agricultural inputs. Women entrepreneurs represent 49.99% of business leaders and operate in various sectors of activity, with a predominance in trade and crafts. The analysis of the course of a sample of women entrepreneurs shows that the exercise of this activity involves learning the trade. The most common mode of learning is traditional, based on family and heritage. Women entrepreneurs are mostly uneducated. They start later and stay longer compared to their male counterparts. Individual enterprises and groups are favored by women who most of the time are at the head of enterprises with low social capital and turnover. The major difficulties encountered by women entrepreneurs are insufficient capital, poor access to adequate credit to finance large-scale activities, unfair competition...