Promoting Business Inclusivity for Sustainable Livelihoods among the Zimbabwean Poor

  • Leonard Mbira Lupane State University, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe
  • Mbongiseni Ncube Lupane State University, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe
DOI: https://doi.org/10.22610/jebs.v10i1(J).2105
Keywords: Business inclusion, Bottom of pyramid, poverty cycle, value chain, entrepreneurship

Abstract

The Zimbabwean economy has nose-dived since the long decade era of hyperinflation resulting in serious economic depression, extreme poverty and unemployment. Regrettably, lack of an entrepreneurial culture has become a huge obstacle to the resuscitation of the economy. Developing inclusive business models incorporating livelihood opportunities for social bottom line has long been suggested as the solution for economically distressed less developed nations facing high levels of unemployment. This study sought to explore factors that disincentivise Zimbabweans from seeking and initiating value creating business opportunities that are low income inclusive and further presents strategies to infuse an entrepreneurial investment culture. It adopts the survey design approach in collection of data. The study identifies lack of skills and knowledge, lack of access to financial markets, unfavorable business environment and regulatory system, perceived high risk and poor infrastructure as the main impediments to the integration of the poor communities in to the value chain.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Ashley, C. (2009). Harnessing core business for development impact. Overseas Development Institute. Retrieved from https://www.odi.org/resources/docs/3566.pdf. Asian Development Bank. (2016). Clarity matters in inclusive business. Available at www.inclusivebusinesshub.org/members/asiandevelopmentbank. Bauer, A. (2014). Inclusive Business in Asia: New Opportunities for Public-Private Partnerships. Inclusive business hub for inclusive business. Retrieved fromhttp://www.inclusivebusinesshub.org/inclusivebusiness. Besugo, P., Chekwoti, C., Frietman, J. B., Keulemans, M., Kiiru, J., Kleingeld, M., … Yona, L. (2017). How can inclusive business strategies contribute to inclusive development in Sub-Saharan Africa. Interim findings. The Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research. Bonnell, V., & Veglio, F. (2011). Inclusive business for sustainable livelihoods. Field Actions Science Report. Comini, G., Barki, E., & Aguiar, L. T. de. (2012). A three-pronged approach to social business: A Brazilian multicase analysis social businesses. Revista de Administração, 47(3), 385–397. De Jongh, R. (2013). Inclusive business potential at the ADB. A preliminary private sector operations portfolio assessment. Asia Development Bank. Available at http://www.adb.org/sites/default/files/project. Doke, L. (2015, December 18). New business model incorporates the poor. Mail and Guardian. Farinelli, F. (2016). Promoting inclusive business models The role of CSO-business partnerships - ECDPM. Great Insights Magazine, 5(2). Franz, M., Felix, M., & Trebbin, A. (2014). Framing smallholder inclusion in global value chains – case studies from India and West Africa. Geographica Helvetica, 69(4), 239-247. Gimenez, C., & Tachizawa, E. M. (2012). Extending sustainability to suppliers: a systematic literature review. Supply Chain Management: An International Journal, 17(5), 531–543. Gradl, C., & Jenkins, B. (2011). Tackling Barriers to Scale: From Inclusive Business Models to Inclusive Business Ecosystems. Cambridge, MA: The CSR Initiative at the Harvard Kennedy School. Hair, J. F., Black, W. C., Babin, B. J., & Anderson, R. E. (2009). Multivariate Data Analysis: A Global Perspective (7th ed.). Upper Saddle River: Prentice Hall. Hall, J., & Matos, S. (2010). Incorporating impoverished communities in sustainable supply chains. International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management, 40(1/2), 124–147. Hall, J., Matos, S., Sheehan, L. & Silvestre, B. (2012). Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the Base of the Pyramid: A Recipe for Inclusive Growth or Social Exclusion? Journal of Management Studies, 49(4), 785–812. Halme, M., Lindeman, S., & Linna, P. (2012). Innovation for Inclusive Business: Intrapreneurial Bricolage in Multinational Corporations. Journal of Management Studies, 49(4), 743–784. Jenkins, B., Ishikawa, E., Geaneotes, A., Baptista, P., & Masuoka, T. (2011). Accelerating inclusive business opportunities: Business models that make a difference. Washington, DC: IFC. Manila forum, (2012). Impact investing for inclusive business in Asia- A conceptual framework for the Manila Forum. Available at http://www.adb.org/sites/default/files. Newman, K., & Ohara, A. (n.d.). Exploring Inclusive Business Strategies Japanese Businesses Go Inclusive. Business Call to Action. Retrieved March 22, 2017, from http://businesscalltoaction.org/news/exploring-inclusive-business-strategies-japanese-businessesgo-inclusive Ngoasong, M. Z. (2016). Inclusive Business Models? How Smes Are Developing Inclusive Value Chains and
Combating Social Exclusion in Bottom-of-the-Pyramid Markets in Africa. in M. Acquaah & K. Stanz (Eds.), Managing Africa ’ s Future : Prospects and Challenges (pp. 58–69). Nairobi: The Africa Academy of Management. Nyoni, S. (2015, September 8). How Inclusive Business Models can Grow Jobs, Seke Times. Retrieved from http://www.seketimes.com Nunnally, J. C. (1978). Psychometric Theory. McGraw-Hill Publishing, New York. Ogunsade, I. A., & Demola Obembe, D. (2016). The influence of informal institutions on informal sector entrepreneurship: a study of Nigeria's hand-woven textile industry. Journal of Small Business & Entrepreneurship, 28(6), 413-429 Porter, G. (2014). Transport Services and Their Impact on Poverty and Growth in Rural Sub-Saharan Africa: A Review of Recent Research and Future Research Needs. Transport Reviews, 34(1), 25-45. Rosler, U. (2013). Inclusive business models; Options for support through PSD programs. Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development. Retrieved from https://www.giz.de/fachexpertise/downloads/giz2014-ib-models-rz.pdf Teodósio, A. & Comini, G. (2012). Inclusive business and poverty: prospects in the Brazilian context. Revista De Adminstração. 47, 410-421. UNDP. (ND). Business solutions to poverty – how inclusive business models create opportunities for all in emerging Europe and central Asia. Available at http://www.growinginclusivemarkets.org/media/report/rbecreport. UNDP. (2013). Realizing Africa’s Wealth- Building Inclusive Businesses for Shared Prosperity. Available at http://www.undp.org/.../Realizing-Africa-s-wealth--building-inclusive-businesses. United Nations Global Compact. (2015). Implementing inclusive business models. How business can work with low income communities. Retrieved from http://www.unglobalcompact.org/library/3161. Wach, E. (2012). Measuring the Inclusivity’ of Inclusive Business. Institute of Development Studies, Brighton, UK. Wakiaga, J. (2013). Economic, Social & Environmental Dimensions in Work for All – Lessons from Ethiopia. UNDP Policy and Advisory Unit. Retrieved from www.un.org/esa/socdev/egms/docs/2015/Wakiaga.pdf.
Published
2018-03-15
How to Cite
Mbira, L., & Ncube, M. (2018). Promoting Business Inclusivity for Sustainable Livelihoods among the Zimbabwean Poor. Journal of Economics and Behavioral Studies, 10(1(J), 224-233. https://doi.org/10.22610/jebs.v10i1(J).2105
Issue
Vol 10 No 1(J) (2018)
Section
Research Paper

Copyright (c) 2018 Leonard Mbira, Mbongiseni Ncube

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Author (s) should affirm that the material has not been published previously. It has not been submitted and it is not under consideration by any other journal. At the same time author (s) need to execute a publication permission agreement to assume the responsibility of the submitted content and any omissions and errors therein. After submission of a revised paper in the light of suggestions of the reviewers, editorial team edits and formats manuscripts to bring uniformity and standardization in published material.

This work will be licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) and under condition of the license, users are free to read, copy, remix, transform, redistribute, download, print, search or link to the full texts of articles and even build upon their work as long as they credit the author for the original work. Moreover, as per journal policy author (s) hold and retain copyrights without any restrictions.