5. Re-imagining Informal Settlements as Spaces for Enhancing Women Informal Entrepreneurship in South Africa: A Financial Inclusion Perspective

Informal settlements are booming in many developing countries through the unprecedented rate at which urbanisation is taking place. Available evidence suggests that the problem lies in the lack of economic opportunities in the formal sector, exacerbating migration to the city, thereby increasing the growth of informal entrepreneurship. Women are found to be at the receiving end of that system since they are excluded and marginalised in the economy. Access to economic opportunities and fostering equitable and sustainable societies is crucial to achieving inclusivity and women empowerment. As such, through an extensive review of literature, this chapter attempts to interrogate and shed light on the role that financial inclusion can play towards supporting women informal entrepreneurship taking lessons from other similar experiences across the world. The work is accomplished on the basis of secondary sources including book reviews, journal articles, research reports, and other secondary materials. Opportunities and barriers to women financial inclusion in African women informal businesses are examined with the aim of providing a possible framework to overcome various impediments mentioned above. The researcher envisions that the findings will be of great benefit to women financial institutions, international agencies, regional bodies, and national and local spheres.