Business research in The Gambia is hindered by a fragmented understanding of its unique entrepreneurial ecosystem, which blends formal and extensive informal sectors, familial financial networks, and distinct socio-cultural norms. This perspective piece aims to develop and propose a novel diagnostic framework to systematically analyse the nation's entrepreneurial ecosystem, thereby guiding more effective and contextually relevant business research. The framework is synthesised from a critical review of existing ecosystem models and tailored through an analysis of the specific institutional, cultural, and economic contours characteristic of the Gambian context. A central theme is the critical, yet under-researched, role of informal 'Susu' savings circles and family-based capital, which are estimated to fund a significant proportion of initial venture capital, operating parallel to nascent formal financial institutions. The proposed diagnostic framework offers a structured lens to dissect the complex interdependencies within the ecosystem, moving beyond generic models that fail to capture local realities. Researchers should apply the framework to map ecosystem actors and capital flows systematically, and policymakers should use it to identify and bolster underdeveloped support pillars, particularly in rural areas. entrepreneurial ecosystem, diagnostic framework, informal finance, business research, The Gambia This paper provides a novel, context-specific diagnostic framework for ecosystem analysis, offering a concrete tool to generate more nuanced and actionable research insights for The Gambia.
Jagne et al. (2023) studied this question.