Addressing gender in enterprise development programs: current practices and a proposed approach

Enterprise development programs recognize 'gender' as an important cross-cutting issue. Strategy to address gender, however, is loosely defined with interpretations varying across agencies. Many such programs consider 'gender' more like an 'annex' rather than effectively addressing gender issues in the project design, with appropriate provisions for gender mainstreaming. In spite of the importance of research on the role of enterprise development initiatives implementing BDS market development approach to facilitating women's entrepreneurship and economic growth, the issue has not been adequately studied. Further, academic research with data from such programs is almost non-existent. This paper makes an attempt to address this research gap by presenting data on how development programs address or struggle to address gender as a cross-cutting issue. It further builds on data of 120 male and female entrepreneurs and business development service providers. The paper argues that addressing gender should often be a matter of 'choice' for impact, outreach and sustainability and not always of 'cost effectiveness' of program interventions.