Empowering Entrepreneurs in the Informal Sector: Strategies for Youth Engagement and Educational Reform

This study investigates the role of informal entrepreneurship in empowering youth within Cameroon, with a particular focus on the gender dimensions influencing entrepreneurial experiences. Addressing significant gaps in the literature that predominantly concentrate on formal business sectors, the research employs a mixed-methods approach that integrates qualitative interviews, observational studies, and quantitative surveys. Data were collected from 30 informal entrepreneurs and 300 youth aged 18–35 across three major cities, revealing both common success factors in informal business ventures and systemic barriers such as lack of financing, societal stigma, and gender-specific challenges women face. The findings indicate a strong positive correlation between awareness of successful informal enterprises and youth intentions to pursue entrepreneurship, with qualitative insights underscoring that community support, adaptability, and resilience are crucial for success. Notably, female entrepreneurs encounter unique obstacles, including limited access to funding and societal perceptions that undermine their legitimacy, highlighting the need for targeted support mechanisms. While this study provides significant contributions to understanding the informal economy's role in youth empowerment, some limitations include a relatively small sample size and the concentration on urban areas, which may not fully capture rural dynamics. Future research could explore the impact of cultural factors on gender roles in entrepreneurship and the long-term effects of informal entrepreneurship on socio-economic mobility among youth. This research emphasizes the potential of the informal sector as a legitimate pathway for economic empowerment, especially for women, and proposes actionable strategies for policymakers and educators to foster a culture of entrepreneurship in Cameroon.