Entrepreneurship is widely recognized as a key driver of economic growth, innovation, and social development. However, traditional entrepreneurship research has largely focused on formal business activities, often overlooking the experiences of women operating within the informal economy. Informal female entrepreneurship (IFE) represents a significant yet underexplored phenomenon, particularly in developing contexts where structural barriers, limited employment opportunities, and social norms constrain women’s participation in the formal labour market. Despite its growing relevance, scholarly attention to IFE remains fragmented, and qualitative insights into women’s lived entrepreneurial experiences are still limited.
This study aims to advance the understanding of informal female entrepreneurship by conducting a meta-synthesis of qualitative research. Specifically, the study seeks to identify the key factors influencing women’s engagement in informal entrepreneurial activities and to explore how these factors shape their entrepreneurial trajectories across different socio-economic contexts. To achieve this objective, a qualitative meta-synthesis methodology was adopted. Following a systematic search across major academic databases, 15 peer-reviewed qualitative studies published between 2011 and 2023 were selected according to predefined inclusion criteria. Data were extracted and analyzed using an open coding approach, allowing for the identification of recurring themes and conceptual categories across the selected studies.
The findings highlight four main dimensions shaping informal female entrepreneurship. First, women’s access to labour market resources and entrepreneurial opportunities plays a crucial role in motivating engagement in informal ventures, often driven by limited access to formal employment or financial capital. Second, cultural and social barriers—such as gender norms, domestic responsibilities, and institutional discrimination—significantly influence women’s entrepreneurial choices and growth potential. Third, digital technologies emerge as important enablers, providing new opportunities for networking, market access, and business development. Finally, informal female entrepreneurship generates significant economic and social contributions, including household income generation, community development, and women’s empowerment.
By synthesizing qualitative evidence, this study contributes to the entrepreneurship literature in two main ways. First, it broadens the conceptualization of entrepreneurship by highlighting the diversity of women’s entrepreneurial experiences within informal economic systems. Second, it provides a comprehensive overview of qualitative research on IFE, offering deeper insights into the motivations, strategies, and challenges faced by informal female entrepreneurs. The findings also suggest important implications for policymakers and practitioners, emphasizing the need for supportive policies, access to financial resources, and targeted training programs aimed at fostering women’s entrepreneurial potential and facilitating pathways from informal to formal economic participation.