DBJ to embark on study targeting female entrepreneurs

The study will provide a panorama of Jamaica’s entrepreneurial and early-stage business landscape aimed at identifying obstacles to, and ultimately implementing solutions to increase the participation of women in sustainable and robust entrepreneurship, the company stated in a release.

It regards the study as ground breaking research initiative taking a “concerted effort to empower and uplift female entrepreneurs in Jamaica” that will focused on “identifying actionable interventions”.
 

The DBJ stated: “The study will provide a panorama of Jamaica’s entrepreneurial and early-stage business landscape aimed at identifying obstacles to, and ultimately implementing solutions to increase the participation of women in sustainable and robust entrepreneurship.
 

“While previous studies by organizations like UN Women and CAPRI have shed light on the challenges faced by female entrepreneurs in the country, this research aims to build on their insights and design practical solutions for meaningful change – actual products or programmes for our entrepreneurs.”
 

Deborah Newland, general manager for strategic services, DBJ states: "This body of research is not about reinventing the wheel. It's about taking the valuable insights from previous studies, engaging with entrepreneurs, and translating them into actionable interventions that can make a tangible difference in the lives of female entrepreneurs."
 

The DBJ noted that Jamaica has a vibrant entrepreneurial landscape, and women entrepreneurs play a crucial role in driving economic growth and innovation. However, challenges such as access to finance, gender-based biases, and limited support systems have hindered their full potential. Recognizing the importance of supporting female entrepreneurs, the DBJ said it is dedicated to harnessing the knowledge from existing research to create real-world impact.
 

DBJ’s gender specialist, Roxine Ricketts, provided insight on the motivation for the study, saying: “Seventy percent (70%) of our client portfolio is made up of women-owned businesses, however, this is heavily concentrated with micro businesses. When we look at our data without the micro businesses, women-owned businesses make up only 25% of our clientele of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).”
 

She continued: “We believe that supporting female entrepreneurs is not only a matter of economic significance but also a step towards creating a more inclusive and equitable society”.
 

The research process will involve engaging with a diverse range of stakeholders, including female entrepreneurs, business associations, government representatives, and non-governmental organizations. By soliciting first-hand perspectives, the DBJ aims to gain a comprehensive understanding of the ecosystem and identify targeted interventions that align with the realities of female entrepreneurs in Jamaica.
 

The study is being undertaken by USA-based A2F Consulting and the field work is expected to commence on August 30, 2023. The DBJ is encouraging full participation of the business community.
 

Christopher Brown, programme manager, BIGEE, said: "We are committed to working hand-in-hand with the community, policy makers, and organizations to ensure that our research leads to actionable outcomes.
 

“We are not saying that there are not women participating, we would be the first to confirm that several of our women participants have carved strong business opportunities and are doing tremendously well. But we need to see more women entrepreneurs and women-led business owners accessing our range of products to grow and scale their businesses.”
 

The DBJ is encouraging all entrepreneurs in Jamaica, including; start-ups, micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, business service intermediaries, business consultants, etc. to  indicate their interest in participating in the study by completing the following form:  https://shorturl.at/sxBL0 after which the research team will make contact with them.