Contextualising the Experiences of Mature Women Entrepreneurs in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Entrepreneurship research and international development discourses are growingly stressing the burgeoning ageing population globally as a result of increased life expectancy. This is believed to disrupt the demand for state social welfare systems in the coming years, which will likely warrant significant policy adjustments to ensure sustainability. Furthermore, the ageing population poses challenges to employment as scholars have found that corporate reluctance to hire older individuals may lead to unemployment, poverty and social welfare dependency. Consequently, governments worldwide are confronted with the question of how to balance the financial pressures of supporting an ageing population. Entrepreneurial scholars have proposed that one of the solutions is to encourage and support entrepreneurship among older adults to alleviate the socio-economic issues presented by this increasing demography. This proposition has influenced the emergence of a separate academic research field termed the “Mature Entrepreneurship Literature”, also known by various terminologies within the literature as discussed in Chapter Two. Despite the acknowledgement of the challenges posed by this demography, the field of mature entrepreneurship remains under-explored, especially in developing countries. Much of the knowledge on mature entrepreneurs stems from the entrepreneurial experiences of individuals in Western Countries, with only a few studies from non-Western Contexts. Accordingly, there is a need to contextualise the experiences of mature entrepreneurs in developing countries to capture the socio-cultural, political and economic contexts that are significantly unique from the developed nations. This contextualisation is critical for adjusting policies and international development agendas that reflect the actual needs of older adults from developing countries. Parallel to the gap above, women’s entrepreneurship research stresses that gender and culture significantly influence the entrepreneurial experiences of women worldwide. Mature entrepreneurship scholars add another layer to this, arguing that age is another social identity marker that influences the entrepreneurial experiences of women. The argument here is that there is a generational disparity between older women and younger women that may influence their socio-cultural world differently; hence, this heterogeneity in experience must be explored. Likewise, studies have ignored the intersectionality of social identities, such as age, culture, gender, etc, in exploring the nuanced experiences of mature women in business. Furthermore, it is widely acknowledged that there are limited studies exploring the experiences of mature women entrepreneurs in both developed and developing countries. While some of these discussions have begun in the developed countries, in the developing countries, there is a significant gap in research. In light of the above gaps, this study sought to contextualise the entrepreneurial experiences of mature women in a developing country context, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The research employed a purposive sampling strategy to target mature women entrepreneurs aged 50 and above alongside institutional gatekeepers representing relevant organisations. Guided by an interpretive research paradigm, the study utilised qualitative methods, including in-depth interviews with mature women entrepreneurs and structured interviews with the institutional gatekeepers, supplemented by participant observations and field photography. Secondary data was collected from a variety of credible sources, including books, journal articles, conference proceedings, and reputable online platforms. The methodological framework adopted for this study was grounded theory, which facilitates the development of a data-driven, context-specific understanding of the experiences of mature women entrepreneurs in Dar es Salaam to formulate relevant conceptual frameworks. Data analysis and interpretation were conducted thematically, yielding several key themes. The findings culminated in the formulation of three conceptual frameworks: the Life-Course Intersectionality Motivation Framework, the Hierarchy of Institutional Influences and Institutional Needs and an An Integrative Framework of MWEs’ Motivations, Challenges, Strategies, and Policy Implications. These frameworks provide a comprehensive understanding of the lived experiences of mature women entrepreneurs within the specific context of Dar es Salaam. This research contributed to the field in five principal ways: Contextually (exploring entrepreneurship in a developing country), Conceptually (constructing a conceptual framework to explain experiences), Methodologically (using qualitative research methods), Theoretically (adding concepts to theories like life course and Intersectionality), and Practically (recommending policies for mature female entrepreneurship development). Furthermore, the study offered recommendations for the SDGs, including the ageing population, especially from a developing economic context. This study then suggested avenues for future research to enhance the understanding of this critical demographic in various contexts. KEYWORDS: Ageing Population, Entrepreneurship, Mature Women Entrepreneurs, Entrepreneurial Experiences, Gender, Women’s Entrepreneurship, Culture, Developing countries, Life-course Theory, Intersectionality Theory, and SDG goals.