Enterprising Africa: Transformation through Entrepreneurship

Enterprising Africa explores the future opportunities, challenges, growth areas and key themes that will shape entrepreneurship in the African continent over the next decade. Entrepreneurship can be the key to unlock resilient growth, but only if it is driven by both socially productive and growth-oriented new businesses. The book considers entrepreneurship as an enabler for socio-economic growth and development in Africa, especially in the context of youth unemployment and increasing youth population for which the traditional, and indeed emerging, industrial sectors will not be able to produce sufficient jobs to meet demand. Organised around three thematic parts, Part I covers the notion of inclusive growth and the role that entrepreneurs can play supporting this. Part II considers the dynamic between entrepreneurs and the environment since social, economic and environmental concerns need to build upon each other rather than vie for recognition. Finally, Part III offers chapters exploring policy contexts and the wider institutional ecosystems that need to be developed and enhanced to ensure a strong and vibrant environment for the future entrepreneurs of Africa to thrive. Edited and authored by leading experts in the field, this fascinating text will be of interest to academics as well as students of International, Transformational and Social Entrepreneurship, and International and African Business.

Stephen Dobson is a Lecturer in Creativity and Enterprise, School of Performance and Cultural Industries at the University of Leeds. He is also the book review Editor for the International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation. He researches creative enterprise, entrepreneurial identity and place.

Paul Jones is Professor of Entrepreneurship and Innovation and Head of the Business Department at Swansea University’s School of Management. He is also Editor of the International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behaviour and Research and Associate Editor for the International Journal of Management Education.

Daniel Agyapong is Associate Professor in Finance and Entrepreneurship at the University of Cape Coast. He has over 50 research outputs in the areas of SME financing and sustainable finance. He has been involved in the Switch Africa Green project and the German-African University Partnership Platform for the Development of Entrepreneurs and SMEs.

Gideon Maas is the Executive Director of the International Centre for Transformational Entrepreneurship at Coventry University. He focuses on entrepreneurship, entrepreneurial universities, entrepreneurial ecosystems and family businesses. His research activities are industry and academic related, and he has published various books and articles in the public domain.