Challenges and Opportunities in the Management of Women-Led Rural Enterprises in the Guanacaste Region

Abstract

This study examines the challenges and opportunities in the management of micro and small enterprises led by women in Guanacaste, Costa Rica. The research, conducted in 2023 using a descriptive and mixed-methods approach, was developed through the University Community Work TCU-764 program at the University of Costa Rica, which provides training to women entrepreneurs in the region. Data collection instruments were administered to 80 female entrepreneurs with more than two years of experience, from nine cantons of Guanacaste. The study examined three key dimensions: demographic characteristics, gender roles, and business management. The results reveal that entrepreneurs face significant limitations in business formalization, administrative management, access to support networks, and technology adoption. The predominant profile shows women with secondary education or less, monthly incomes below $600, who balance their time between household and business responsibilities. The most common sectors are food, clothing, jewelry, and handicrafts. The findings highlight the need for policies that simultaneously address the unequal distribution of domestic responsibilities and gaps in business capabilities, particularly in commercial management, formalization processes, and technology adoption. The study emphasizes the importance of developing targeted support programs that consider the particularities of the rural context and gender dynamics in the region. This research provides valuable evidence to guide interventions that strengthen the sustainable development of women's entrepreneurship in rural areas of Guanacaste, thereby helping to reduce gender gaps in the business sector.