Entrepreneurial Ecosystems and Sustainable Development: Evidence from Central African Countries

Entrepreneurial ecosystems are increasingly recognized as crucial drivers of sustainable development. Yet little empirical research explores how these ecosystems operate in Central African contexts. This thesis investigates how entrepreneurial ecosystems in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Cameroon and Gabon enable or hinder sustainable entrepreneurship and identifies the key factors and combinations influencing entrepreneurs’ contributions to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Drawing on ecosystem frameworks and sustainable entrepreneurship theory, this study employs quantitative and qualitative research. The Data which is being analyzed in this paper was collected by Prof. Arthur William Fodouop Kouam in his research to entrepreneurship ecosystems in Central Africa aimed at entrepreneurs across the three countries. Hereby perceptions of ecosystem dimensions, including access to finance, policy environment, human capital, support institutions and entrepreneurial culture, as well as experiences of external shocks, resilience and perceived contributions to sustainable development were being captured, next to descriptive factors such as firm size or location. By conducting a descriptive analysis of the qualitative data followed by fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA) of the quantitative data set, the thesis aims to show which characteristics the elements of the ecosystems have in each country and in which combinations which factors indicate significant associations to sustainable development contributions. These findings highlight the importance of strengthening financial systems, policy support and educational initiatives to foster sustainable entrepreneurship in Central Africa. The study offers recommendations for policymakers, development institutions and ecosystem actors to address ecosystem gaps and enhance entrepreneurs’ capacity to contribute to sustainable development in the region. These findings contribute to both academic understanding and practical policy design for fostering resilient and inclusive entrepreneurship ecosystems in Central Africa.