2 research outputs found
Transition Of Access To Finance For Women-Owned SMEs: Pre And Post COVID-19 Micro-Study For Bulawayo Metropolitan
Get PDFPURPOSE: This study seeks to delineate the transition of access to
finance for women-owned SMEs (pre and post COVID-19) in
Bulawayo Metropolitan as a way of understanding the adequacy of
financing and recovery potential of SMEs post the pandemic.METHODOLOGY: The study adopts survey methods (questionnaires
and interviews) on a conveniently selected but diverse (different
economic sectors, formal and informal, different sizes and business
forms) sample of women-owned SMEs in Bulawayo Metropolitan.FINDINGS: The study confirmed the widening financing gap for
women-owned SMEs on account of SMEs’ reduced bankability and
reduction in tenability of most financing sources post COVID-19. The
emergence of new costs (rental and debt arrears, revival of
operations, re-hiring of labor, acquiring of technology, financing
working capital and retooling increase) increased SMEs’ financing
needs post COVID-19. Targeted financial intervention is imperative
for a speedy recovery of women-owned SMEs post the pandemic.ORIGINALITY/VALUE: This study provides an uncommon transitory
dimension of literature on access to finance for women-owned SMEs
(prior and post COVID-19). Secondly, tracing the transition of access
to finance for women-owned SMEs advances intervention strategies
for timeous recovery of the SMEs. Thirdly, to the best of our
understanding, this paper is the first to adopt a gendered approach
to the transitory status of access to finance.peer-reviewe
Surviving the threat of COVID-19: a review of Smes’ adaptive strategies
No full textThis study seeks to explore and assess the feasibility of SMEs’ adaptive strategies considering the limiting stimulus and peculiarity of SMEs in developing economies. Noting evidence paucity and fragmentation in relation to SMEs’ adaptive strategies during the pandemic (COVID-19), this study collates evidence related to the settings of developing economies as a way of augmenting the realities of the SME sector. The study assumes a literature review approach inclined on tracking available evidence on how SMEs maneuvered the challenges introduced by the COVID-19. The intuition presents to SMEs an opportunity to weigh the plausibility of alternative strategies to navigate the business now and for referral purposes in case of another crisis. Online trading, change in business models, remote work, reconfiguring budgets and reducing overheads, and re-negotiating debt obligations emerged as popular strategies adopted by SMEs. However, the efficacy of these strategies in developing countries remains a concern on account of inadequate stimulus packages, SMEs’ low management capacity to handle the changing business environment, operating losses, poor uptake of technology and technological literacy, the limiting costs linked to the adoption of technology amongst many. Policy imperatives designed to undo these limitations can prop the SME sector post the pandemic
