Received on 29 January 2024; revised on 04 February 2024; accepted on 06 February 2024 | Chidigo Uzoamaka Akpuokwe, Chidinma Favour Chikwe, Nkechi Emmanuella Eneh
The article presents a conceptual framework for leveraging technology and financial literacy to empower women in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), promoting sustainable development. The framework highlights the importance of technology in providing access to markets, networks, and resources, and financial literacy in enabling women to manage finances effectively. It emphasizes the intersectionality of technology and financial literacy, where technology serves as an enabler for financial literacy initiatives, and financial literacy enhances women's ability to leverage technology. The framework also underscores the need for ecosystem support, including collaboration among government agencies, financial institutions, technology providers, and civil society organizations. The article discusses historical perspectives, theoretical foundations, key components of the framework, implementation strategies, case studies, challenges, and barriers, and concludes with recommendations for policy reforms and stakeholder collaboration to create an enabling environment for women's empowerment in SMEs.The article presents a conceptual framework for leveraging technology and financial literacy to empower women in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), promoting sustainable development. The framework highlights the importance of technology in providing access to markets, networks, and resources, and financial literacy in enabling women to manage finances effectively. It emphasizes the intersectionality of technology and financial literacy, where technology serves as an enabler for financial literacy initiatives, and financial literacy enhances women's ability to leverage technology. The framework also underscores the need for ecosystem support, including collaboration among government agencies, financial institutions, technology providers, and civil society organizations. The article discusses historical perspectives, theoretical foundations, key components of the framework, implementation strategies, case studies, challenges, and barriers, and concludes with recommendations for policy reforms and stakeholder collaboration to create an enabling environment for women's empowerment in SMEs.