Empowerment Through Enterprise

The study examines the effect of the Business Development Training (BDT) on business performance and economic empowerment of women entrepreneurs of the rural areas of Blantyre, Malawi, focused on beneficiaries of the Project Innovation Centre (PIC) Business Development fund. This study adopted a cross-sectional survey using quantitative methods with a sample of 150 women entrepreneurs who have attended BDT. Data analysis focused on descriptive income generated, confidence in entrepreneurial activities, identification of target customers, and business performance. The results suggested that BDT has a substantial impact on increasing entrepreneurial confidence and economic empowerment. Significantly, 94% of respondents reported greater entrepreneurial confidence, and 73% indicated higher profits and expansion of business. Effects were particularly pronounced among women with secondary and tertiary education, suggesting the importance of education in leveraging training. Yet, the impact of BDT was limited by contextual factors. Participants’ perception of the relevance of training was low, while illiteracy and the lack of infrastructure and market access prevented the skills learned from translating into long-term economic impact. Further, the study identified a lack of representation of younger women and those with lower educational attainment, which may indicate a lack of inclusivity and equal access to such programs. The research calls for more context-sensitive, inclusive, and market-access-and-infrastructure integrated BDT interventions for improved outcomes. The study was based on self-reported cross-sectional data without a control group, which could limit causal inference. In summary, the study offers empirical insights from rural Malawi on the need for integrated approaches to business development training.