Muteba Mukole Fiston, Nizeyimana Jean Baptiste
This study falls within SDG Focus Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth — Target 8.3: Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation, and encourage the formalization and growth of micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises, including through access to financial services; Target 8.5: By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value; Target 8.10: Strengthen the capacity of domestic financial institutions to encourage and expand access to banking, insurance and financial services for all. This study examines small business development and social capital in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda, two neighbouring Central African countries with different historical trajectories, social capital structures, and small business environments. The DRC has a weak business environment characterized by conflict, corruption, weak institutions, and low social capital (trust, networks, cooperation), which constrains small business development, access to finance, and market access. Rwanda has transformed its business environment through institutional reform, anti-corruption measures, and investment in social capital (trust-building, community-based organizations (Ubudehe), cooperative development), resulting in rapid small business growth and improved access to finance. The research analyzes how each country's social capital (trust in institutions, business networks, community cooperation, ethnic trust) affects small business formation, survival, and growth, the role of cooperatives and community-based organizations, the effectiveness of business development services, and the lessons for other countries. A comparative analysis was conducted examining…
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