Pages
86-113
Authors
Nariman Abo- Atwan, Asem Obied, Doaa Isifan, Sondos Rayan, Assel Matar
Abstract

Small and micro entrepreneurial projects are one of the significant pillars of the economic and social development worldwide since they have the highest percentage of all types of projects. The present study aimed to identify the challenges that faced women in small and micro entrepreneurial projects in Ramallah and Al-Bireh Governorate in accordance with the following variables: age, academic qualification, enterprise type, the participants’ situation before starting the enterprise, the foundation of the enterprise as well as its location, motives, and start-up capital. The researchers designed a questionnaire for women, which consisted of (15) questions distributed on three measures: the social challenges, financial challenges, and administrative challenges. The sample consisted of (67) women owners of projects selected randomly. Moreover, the study adopted the descriptive approach. The results indicated that the degree of social and administrative challenges facing women in small and micro entrepreneurial projects in Palestine are medium, however; the financial challenges are high. The results also indicated that there were no differences from the sample's point of view according to variables of age, academic qualification, enterprise type, the participants’ situation before starting the enterprise, as well as the location, motives, and start-up capital. However, there were differences from the sample’s point of view according to the foundation of the project (from the scratch, by the husband, other family) and (friends ) in favor of recently established, from the scratch, by the husband and other family members. Moreover, there were differences from the sample’s point of view according to the project’s foundation motives: family- owned business, source of income, talent, investment and achieving self-satisfaction in favor of family business, source of income, talent, or investment. Finally, the study recommended developing flexible financial procedures that enable women entrepreneurs to raise funding and overcome the financial obstacles during the establishment of small projects and in line with the financial inclusion strategies and improving the working conditions of women in micro and small enterprises.

Keywords
Entrepreneurial projects
social challenges
financial challenges
administrative challenges
women entrepreneurs
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