African Entrepreneurship and Reconsidering Informality Presented by: Yemisi Oloruntola

Gender Differences Men vs. Women Traders Men Have wage jobs Have start up capital Few or no dependents Younger Permanent Nairobi residents Land Some education Women Do not have wage jobs Very little start-up capital Many dependents Older Lack of land Lack of Education

Education and the Kenyan Woman

Difference in level of education  24% of women did standard 6 or 7, compared with 33% of men  27% of women completed Form 1 or higher, compared with 51% of men

Gender Difference in Profits and Locality Men’s profits are 2x greater Men selling in the same area reap less profits than outside area No differences for women No difference in profits in locale for women Men reap more profits regardless of locale

Trade as a Survival Strategy for Women Substantial family obligations Landlessness Widowed or Divorce Poverty Profit

Business as Usual? Women likely to file bankruptcy Businesses are short and less prosperous Harassment from authorities Problems with supply Health Family

Family Vs. Business Women spend less hours in trading  Family obligations  Cooking  Taking children to school  Illnesses Domestication has impact on women’s economic productivity

Entrepreneurs and Family Well- being in Cameroon

Household income and its Positive effect on Family Well-being Women income linked to family’s welfare Inconsistent relationship between income from commercial farming and families health Women’s occupational choice determines family well being

Linkages of Women’s Economic activity and Children Northern Ghana  Women traders able to invest money into children Philippines  Women traders no time to feed their children nutritious foods India  Women who earned more money children’s health was poor

Study of Cameroonian Families Research  All women were married  Had farmland  Had two children between (24 and 60 months)

Methods  Participant observation  Key informant  Focus groups  Questionnaire survey  Child anthropometry

Results Children from the producers were lighter and shorter Entrepreneurs children were heavier and taller The entrepreneurs had greater variety of food

Potato Harvest Harvest begins in late June and ends in October In a good year women farmers can make huge profits Money spent on education and health Men unwilling to pay for children education

Constraints to Farming Urbanization Renting Increased production of labor

Trading and Marketing Foster Improved Child Welfare Market and trading women purchased more food items  Fish, groundnuts, egusi (squash seeds), dried corn, flavoring cubes, and spices  High in nutrients  Worked in “food enriched” environments  Enhanced children’s diet and welfare

Conclusions Women’s income helps families Women entrepreneurs provide nutritious foods Children’s education and welfare Need more support and education

Sharing Public Space: Immigrant Fishermen and a Multinational Oil Company

Research Setting Pointe-Noire in Congo-Brazzaville 2 nd largest city Today, predominately oil based

Main Thesis Fishermen changes the socio-spatial patterns Public space and the oil company Legal system and authorities

Advantages to the Coastal Land

Proximity to main markets Public facilities Water supply Schools Military posts

Attractive to Oil Companies Infrastructure  Electricity  Roads  Water  Military posts

Non-Fishermen Were outnumbered Had an alliance with the fishermen Thrived from the fishermen Satisfied food demand

Informality in Land Allocation and Housing Development Zoning Corruption Courtyards Use of public utilities

Economic Role of the Women Micro-enterprises  Fish smoking  Petty retailers (oil, sugar, salt, etc)  Restaurants

The Presence of the Oil Companies

Affected fishing practices  Canoes colliding with ships  Damage to nets  Noise produced by engines  Environmental changes  Increase in price of fish

Conclusions Harmony fishermen and the locals Participation in local decisions Generated jobs for the Congolese