The role of social networks for entrepreneurs in sub-Saharan Africa – A systematic literature review

Social networks play a critical role for entrepreneurs, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, where social networks are shaped by informal institutions or tribal affiliation. This systematic literature review synthesizes findings from 78 studies sourced from EBSCO and Web of Science databases to examine the drivers, network structures, and outcomes associated with social networks of entrepreneurs in sub-Saharan Africa. Our analysis reveals that most studies relating to this topic rely predominantly on three theoretical perspectives – social capital, social embeddedness, and the strength of ties. Our review demonstrates that the majority of these studies focus on individual and especially organizational consequences of social networks, whereas the drivers of networks remain under-researched. Our findings lead us to propose a multidimensional organizing framework and an extensive agenda for future research addressing content-specific, theoretical, and methodological gaps in the current literature. We hope that our review opens new pathways for research and fosters a deeper and more comprehensive understanding of social networks in the context of entrepreneurship in sub-Saharan Africa.