| The Hidden revolution
| The coming of the internet has focused the worlds attention on technology and its potential role in fueling the world to new heights of productivity and wealth. In Africa and other developing nations the benefits of this revolution may be less apparent as the majority of the population struggle to find ways to eke out a living. Small businesses play a critical role in the growth and development of any nation and this is no exception in Africa where the large enterprise sector has failed to meet the demand for employment. As a recourse to the employment problem, many people turn to self employment in the informal sector and engage in myriad activities such as petty retail trading, small scale carpentry, food processing, small scale hoteliers, handicraft production, tailoring etc. In the rural areas, many households combine and supplement agricultural income with micro enterprise activities to raise household income flows. These user-owned and managed micro enterprises operate in the informal sector and provide a source of income for many low-income people and communities.
|
|
