Thematic Analysis of Small and Medium Enterprise Profile Opportunities on Constituency Development Fund in Kafue, Zambia

Abstract

The small businesses in Kafue District take place to provide solutions that answer the overall economic and social development difficulties such as increase in the levels of unemployment, poverty, and inequality. The government’s function has always been to create a favourable environment for business for all SMEs to thrive better. Due to such difficulties encountered by the citizenry, despite existing empowerment policies, the government introduced the Constituency Development Fund to support SMEs within their cooperatives in Zambia; this is to reduce the barriers that obstruct SMEs’ profile opportunities to grow and to be sustainable to fulfil government and society expectations. The drive of this study was to analyze thematically different profile opportunities of SMEs in the manner in which they can access CDF. The study focused on opportunities that lie in each SME’s profile and identified the profiles according to their needs. The method which was used in this study was qualitative and employed purposive sampling to comprehend SMEs’ profile opportunities. The results of this study resolved that SMEs’ profile needs to be helped to core exists as they utilize or struggle to access funding from the existing CDF. The emergent themes reported in this study show that there are significant qualitative profiles to consider as officers in charge of CDF disburse the funds to the beneficiaries. In conclusion, the study recommended policymakers support small businesses to grow in an inclusive, innovative and sustainable way in line with the financial opportunities available. The findings in this study will establish equal distribution, utilization, and management of resources by responsible government agencies in Kafue, Zambia.