Women entrepreneurs need more than a quick fix

This research paper evaluates the Women Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative (We-Fi), an effort initiated by Ivanka Trump to provide over US$1 million for women entrepreneurs in developing countries. While acknowledging the initiative's goal to address the fact that approximately 70% of women-owned small and medium enterprises in the developing world lack adequate finance, the author warns against 'economic instrumentalism' and the 'Smart Economics' doctrine. The paper argues that providing financial resources alone is a 'quick fix' that fails to address structural gender inequalities, such as legal restrictions on property ownership and culturally-based patriarchy, and urges We-Fi to prioritize legal, social, and policy-related interventions for lasting impact.

• The Women Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative (We-Fi) aims to provide more than US$1 million to support women entrepreneurs in developing nations through technical training, mentorship, access to finance, and public policy reforms regarding gender equality.
• There is a significant global gap in business ownership and financing for women; fewer than one-third of businesses globally are woman-owned, and in developing countries, roughly 70% of women-owned small and medium enterprises lack sufficient financing.
• The author criticizes the 'Smart Economics' doctrine used by the World Bank, which frames women's empowerment as a tool for economic growth and productivity rather than a goal in itself, leading to the neglect of structural inequalities.
• Financial interventions alone are insufficient because they do not address root causes of disempowerment, such as legal barriers to owning property and accessing credit, limited influence in household decisions, and the unpaid labor burdens women continue to shoulder.
• To achieve lasting empowerment, We-Fi must move beyond the narrative that women are better loan repayers due to 'selflessness' and instead invest in gender education, policy support, and the engagement of local men to combat culturally-based patriarchy.

APA

South African Institute of International Affairs (2017). Women entrepreneurs need more than a quick fix. https://saiia.org.za/research/women-entrepreneurs-need-more-than-a-quick-fix/

Chicago

South African Institute of International Affairs. Women entrepreneurs need more than a quick fix. 2017. https://saiia.org.za/research/women-entrepreneurs-need-more-than-a-quick-fix/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=South African Institute of International Affairs |title=Women entrepreneurs need more than a quick fix |date=18 July 2017 |url=https://saiia.org.za/research/women-entrepreneurs-need-more-than-a-quick-fix/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{southafricaninstituteofinternationalaffairs2017women, author = {{South African Institute of International Affairs}}, title = {{Women entrepreneurs need more than a quick fix}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2017}, month = jul, url = {https://saiia.org.za/research/women-entrepreneurs-need-more-than-a-quick-fix/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }