A Characterization and Analysis of Entrepreneurship Ecosystems in Sub-Saharan Countries
The Case of Guinea-Bissau
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 21737522 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Germen Benjamim Correia (Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul), Antônio Domingos Padula (0000-0003-0839-8212, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Volume | 27 |
| Issue | 2 |
| Pages | 350-375 |
| Publication date | 2026-04-03 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Journal of African Business (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1522-8916 • E-ISSN: 1522-9076 |
| Publisher | Informa UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1080/15228916.2025.2485745 |
| OpenAlex | W4409176061 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 53 |
High unemployment rates and low income levels indicate the need to stimulate entrepreneurship in sub-Saharan countries. This article characterizes and analyses the entrepreneurship ecosystem in Guinea-Bissau, one of the poorest countries in the world. The study employs an ecosystem model comprised of six domains: Public Policy, Financial Capital, Culture, Support Institutions, Human Resources and the Market. Data were collected from documents in government and private organizations and from 14 interviews held with entrepreneurs (12), experts and government agents (2). The findings show the domains that most facilitate entrepreneurship were “Support Institutions,” mainly international ones, and the “Market.” Conversely, “Financial Capital,” “Human Resources” and “Culture” were found to inhibit entrepreneurship, while the ecosystem lacks incentives from “Public Policy.” The results suggest the opportunity to create a Bank for Economic and Social Development with fewer bureaucratic procedures. Celebration of free-trade treaties between countries in the region may expand markets, cross-border trade, businesses and entrepreneurship. A framework for public-private cooperation with policies, initiatives and activities envisaged for the implementation of a dynamic and productive entrepreneurial ecosystem in Guinea-Bissau is suggested. This framework could be explored and adapted for specific-countries characterized by informal economy
Biology · Business · Development economics · Economic geography · Economic growth · Economics · Ecosystem · Entrepreneurship · Ethnology · Geography · Natural resource economics · New guinea · Sociology · Entrepreneurship Studies and Influences · Innovation and Socioeconomic Development · Private Equity and Venture Capital · Ecology
Institutions, Human Capital, and Development
Contextualization and the advancement of entrepreneurship research
Entrepreneurial Ecosystems and Regional Policy
Environments for Entrepreneurship Development
Sustainable valley entrepreneurial ecosystems
Entrepreneurship as a solution to poverty
National systems of production, innovation and competence building
Entrepreneurial innovation
Small Business Performance
An Integrative Framework for Formal and Informal Entrepreneurship Research in Africa
Entrepreneurship and the Informal Sector
How to start African Informal entrepreneurial revolution
Political instability and savings in less developed countries
Entrepreneurship, economic development and institutions
Entrepreneurship, developing countries, and development economics
Entrepreneurial ecosystems
Linking Entrepreneurship and Economic Growth
Introduction
Unbundling Institutions
Institutions as the Fundamental Cause of Long-Run Growth
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |