Title: Challenges Faced by Women Entrepreneurs in Accessing Financial Support in Sierra Leone

Abstract

This research sheds light on the structural and institutional challenges women entrepreneurs face in accessing financial and technical support in Sierra Leone. To gain insight into these challenges, the research used both surveys and in-depth interviews (a mixed-methods approach) administered to SMEs and stakeholders. These methods shed light on the views of both SMEs and stakeholders, thereby highlighting any discrepancies between them. Feminist political economy is the main conceptual framework for this research, supported by the institutional theory framework. The findings of this research show that funding and technical support are available to all entrepreneurs, but structural and institutional barriers limit women entrepreneurs' access to them. Such barriers tend to push women entrepreneurs towards informal financing, which restricts their growth. Based on these analyses, the research proposes practical short-term and long-term recommendations for inclusive financial access and technical support.