The ‘Business Forum of Uzbekistan (Phase III)’ project conducted focus group discussions and structured interviews with female entrepreneurs to identify challenges and opportunities female entrepreneurs face in Uzbekistan.

The survey involved 115 female entrepreneurs in four regions of Uzbekistan – Bukhara region, Jizzakh region, Andijan region and Karakalpakstan. A sampling strategy was based on randomly selected entrepreneurs from the list of all registered female entrepreneurs across four regions between April and October 2017. A research instrument was piloted in Tashkent with a small group of female entrepreneurs, and additional data was also collected via Google survey shared with Uzbek female entrepreneurship group through mobile application.

Based on the survey, the policy brief provides information on challenges female entrepreneurs face in Uzbekistan, including institutional constraints and opportunities, sectoral challenges and opportunities, and individual obstacles and opportunities. In addition, the paper contains policy recommendations for developing women entrepreneurship in the country.