LLC “Zerkalo Central Asia” has completed a study to identify legal, regulatory, and political barriers faced by entrepreneurs (both women and men) in Kyrgyzstan when establishing, registering, and operating their businesses. The study was conducted under the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) project “Assessment of the Investment Climate with a Gender Perspective.” The client is International Consultants for Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Ltd.
The EBRD project “Assessment of the Investment Climate with a Gender Perspective” is being implemented in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. The main target group of the project is small and medium-sized entrepreneurs.
The goal of LLC “Zerkalo Central Asia” under the contract is as follows:
- Desk research on policies and legislation, as well as relevant reports to assess the gender impact on the investment climate;
- Survey of 400 entrepreneurs in Kyrgyzstan, ensuring representativeness across market segments, regions, and with adequate coverage of both women and men for comparative analysis;
- Organization of focus group discussions (FGDs) with women entrepreneurs, associations/organizations involved in the development of women entrepreneurship, and their members to inform them about survey results, as well as conducting interviews with key stakeholders.
Data collection was carried out in all seven regions and two cities of Kyrgyzstan. A total of 11 interviewers were involved in the data collection process.
Fieldwork was conducted from December 18, 2019, to January 8, 2020. The survey involved 414 respondents (117 men and 297 women). Respondents were selected using multiple methods. The EBRD database of entrepreneurs was used, which was provided by the organization’s office. Entrepreneurs from the “ZIA” association in the southern part of the country were also engaged.
The “snowball” method was also applied during the study. This method is based on the idea that almost every representative of the target group can refer one or more other individuals who belong to the group. Interviewers, therefore, first find the initial respondents using special methods, and those respondents, in turn, suggest others to interview. As a result, the number of respondents grows like a snowball. This method allows for considerable flexibility in the location of interviews and is used when representatives of the target group are difficult to find by other methods, and access to them can only be achieved through trusted individuals.
On February 13, 2020, two focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted in Bishkek, and on February 19, 2020, two FGDs are scheduled in the city of Osh, involving women entrepreneurs, government bodies, and others who influence the development of women entrepreneurship in Kyrgyzstan.
It is expected that the study data will be used in the development of the National Program for Women Entrepreneurship.
