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This study aims to identify the common factors contributing to the failure of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Africa through a systematic literature review and descriptive statistical analysis.Focusing on the post-Covid-19 period, the study examines the challenges faced by SMEs in three sectors: agriculture, trade and services, and industry.The systematic review reveals that SME failure is influenced by a combination of factors related to the entrepreneur, management process, organizational characteristics, and environmental variables.The descriptive analysis highlights sector-specific issues, such as limited access to technology and the internet in the agricultural sector, high levels of informality and corruption in the trade and services sector, and significant management difficulties in the industrial sector.The study also finds that African SMEs are poorly connected to international knowledge networks and face challenges in market integration.The findings emphasize the need for targeted interventions and support mechanisms to address the identified failure factors and promote SME growth in Africa.
Mouhtat et al. (Tue,) studied this question.