This study examines the influence of microfinance on the business viability of women entrepreneurs in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), a country with significant economic challenges and gender disparities. An action research approach was employed, involving interviews with 50 female entrepreneurs who participated in microfinance initiatives over a two-year period. Data collection included questionnaires on business outcomes and semi-structured interviews to explore qualitative aspects. Microfinance has notably improved financial stability for women entrepreneurs, evidenced by an increase of 42% in average monthly income reported among participants compared to pre-intervention levels. The findings suggest that microfinance not only supports economic empowerment but also enhances the resilience and sustainability of female-owned businesses in DRC's challenging socio-economic environment. Policy makers are encouraged to integrate microfinance into broader development strategies, particularly focusing on enhancing access to financial services for underserved women entrepreneurs.
Bokwe et al. (Sat,) studied this question.