Entrepreneurship in Sub-Saharan Africa: Participants’ views of a professional development program’s impact on their business ventures five years later

Mahamane S. Cisse; M. Craig Edwards; Lauren L. Cline; J. Shane Robinson; Craig E. Watters; Lydia M. Martins

doi:10.37433/aad.v6i3.601

Authors

Mahamane Cisse Oklahoma State University, USA https://orcid.org/0009-0007-1586-6105
M. Craig Edwards Oklahoma State University, USA https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4436-4450
Lauren L. Cline Oklahoma State University, USA https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4187-8122
J. Shane Robinson Oklahoma State University, USA https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9506-5752
Craig E. Watters Oklahoma State University, USA
Lydia M. Martins Oklahoma State University, USA https://orcid.org/0009-0001-5699-0096

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.37433/aad.v6i3.601

Keywords:

agribusiness, education, photovoice, SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

Abstract

We assessed the impact of Oklahoma State University’s 2018 MWFI on its participants, i.e., Fellows, approximately five years after they returned home. Twenty-five Fellows from 20 Sub-Saharan African (SSA) nations participated in a six-weeks-long training program sponsored by the U.S. Department of State. Our follow-up study sought to determine the Fellows’ satisfaction regarding the training, the primary benefits and achievements attributed to it, and the training-related developments of the Fellows’ businesses they selected to share. We collected quantitative and qualitative data to answer three questions, including a narrated photovoice request. Most Fellows indicated that they were satisfied with the training and would not have been equipped to improve their businesses without its contributions to their development. As such, results were supported conceptually by human capital theory. More planning by the funder who places Fellows and by the Institute’s providers may better address some Fellows’ specific learning needs and interests not fully met. Additional longitudinal studies, including economic analyses, are warranted.

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