https://iprjb.org/journals/index.php/IJEPM <p>International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Management (IJEPM) is a peer reviewed journal published by IPRJB.The journal contains high quality manuscripts dealing with entrepreneurship ,broadly defined and the management of entrepreneurial organization .The journal covers the relationship between management and entrepreneurship including both conceptual and empirical papers leading to an improvement in the understanding of international entrepreneurial perspectives in the organization corncerned.The journal is published both online and printed versions.</p> en-US <p>Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) 4.0 License</a> that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgment of the work’s authorship and initial publication in this journal.</p> journals@iprjb.org (Journal Admin) support@iprjb.org (Journal Support) Tue, 27 Feb 2024 13:58:52 +0300 OJS 3.2.1.4 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss 60 https://iprjb.org/journals/index.php/IJEPM/article/view/2366 <p><strong>Purpose: </strong>Women entrepreneurs in Tanzania are making significant contributions to their local economies, driving innovation, and creating employment opportunities. However, they still face numerous challenges, including limited access to financing, inadequate business skills, and gender-based discrimination.To address these challenges and unlock the full potential of women entrepreneurs, mentorship programs have emerged as a powerful mechanism.</p> <p><strong>Methodology</strong>: The study examined the effect of empowering women entrepreneurs through mentoring programs, a case study of Babati District Council. The study used mixed research approach and employed sequential explanatory research design. Descriptive and regression analysis were used to analyze the data and presented by tables and figures.</p> <p><strong>Findings: </strong>The findings revealed the strong relationship between mentorship programs and women entrepreneurs' empowerment, as evidenced by a high R-squared value of 0.76. This means that approximately 76% of the variation in women entrepreneurs' empowerment can be explained by mentorship programs. The significant relationship between mentorship programs and women entrepreneurs' empowerment is further supported by a low p-value of 0.001, indicating that the observed relationship is unlikely to be due to chance.The study concluded mentorship programs have a significant impact on women entrepreneurs' empowerment.</p> <p><strong>Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: </strong>From the findings, it recommended fostering mentorship opportunities to support and uplift women in their entrepreneurial journeys. This study has contributed to the advancement of knowledge and practice in the field of mentoring programs for women entrepreneurs in Tanzania. The research has provided valuable insights and recommendations that can guide policymakers, practitioners, and researchers in their efforts to support women entrepreneurs. The study proposed a theoretical framework that elucidates the means by which mentoring programs can empower women entrepreneurs. It also identified crucial elements of effective mentoring programs, including regular meetings, clearly defined goals and expectations, active listening, and constructive feedback. Additionally, the study pushed for policies that foster an enabling environment for women entrepreneurs, including access to financing, education, and networking opportunities. Such policies can facilitate the growth and development of women-led enterprises.</p> Obedi Ngalesoni , Geofrey Mwakifwamba , Haghai Pandisha Copyright (c) 2024 Obedi Ngalesoni , Geofrey Mwakifwamba , Haghai Pandisha https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 https://iprjb.org/journals/index.php/IJEPM/article/view/2366 Tue, 27 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0300 https://iprjb.org/journals/index.php/IJEPM/article/view/2371 <p><strong>Purpose:</strong> The purpose of this study is to examine how entrepreneurial network ecosystem affect growth of leather manufacturing small and medium enterprises in Kenya.</p> <p><strong>Methodology:</strong> A purposeful sample was used to select respondents. Questionnaires designed to examine the views of the entrepreneur about SME networking were distributed amongst SMEs in leather manufacturing. The research instrument was based on a five-point Likert scale. The questionnaire administered contained 2parts, Part 1: contains general information, while Part 2: contains specific questions relating to networking.</p> <p><strong>Findings: </strong>The results of the analysis showed a generally positive overview of SME networking in Kenya. The respondents agreed that networking is of great benefit to their businesses.</p> <p><strong>Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy:</strong> Relevant bodies such as Kenya association of manufacturing (KAM), ministry of livestock, Kenya association of tanners should come up with framework to ensure there relevant and coordinated network ecosystem in the leather manufacturing in Kenya.</p> Kunusia Lilian Khalayi, Prof. Gregory Simiyu Namusonge, Dr. Susan Naikuru Copyright (c) 2024 Kunusia Lilian Khalayi, Prof. Gregory Simiyu Namusonge, Dr. Susan Naikuru https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 https://iprjb.org/journals/index.php/IJEPM/article/view/2371 Wed, 28 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0300