Micro-finance and enterprise development amongst the youth: A review of the Kurera-Ukondla Youth Fund in Harare, Zimbabwe

Type Thesis or Dissertation - Master Thesis
Title Micro-finance and enterprise development amongst the youth: A review of the Kurera-Ukondla Youth Fund in Harare, Zimbabwe
Author(s)
Publication (Day/Month/Year) 2014
URL https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Kudzai_Mubaiwa2/publication/261984380_Micro-finance_and_enterpr​ise_development_amongst_the_youth_A_review_of_the_Kurera-Ukondla_Youth_Fund_in_Harare_Zimbabwe/links​/0a85e5360f673d9d93000000.pdf
Abstract
The scourge of unemployment has been identified as one of the greatest challenges facing young people around the world, with growing sentiment inclining towards micro-enterprises as a solution, however access to capital is a significant impediment facing youth in the creation and growth of small businesses. This research paper investigates how the Kurera-Ukondla micro-finance youth development fund has helped youth micro-enterprise owners in Harare, Zimbabwe, to develop their small businesses. Access to credit is shown to be important when it comes to creating new enterprises. This study enhances the discussion on micro-finance for micro-enterprises because it considers the impact from a youth economic development perspective instead of the typically general view. It also highlights the feedback from the micro-finance fund staff and participants by following participatory programme evaluation methods. The researcher targeted 228 micro-finance beneficiary youths in Harare Province who had obtained finance from the Kurera-Ukondla Youth Fund. A random sampling approach was used to pick respondents from the cluster. Primary data were obtained using a self-administered pretested structured and semi-structured interview questionnaire. Secondary data were obtained from published books, journal articles and various reports by the fund managers – CABS Building Society and the Ministry of Youth Development, Indigenisation and Empowerment. Analysis was undertaken using descriptive statistics. The study showed that the micro-finance project had a minimal effect on the number of youth enterprises; although uptake of the Fund was high, this did not translate to depth. However a positive effect of the micro-finance project on youth micro-enterprise productivity in the short term was noted. The study recommends that more enterprise development services be availed in a holistic manner alongside micro-finance for youth businesses, namely business and technical skills training, mentoring, and market linkages. It also urges future researchers to explore the optimal methods and structures for youth funding.

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