All the women beam. Some production groups have success stories and excellent repayment records, but the 30 women with the corn-grinding mill are worried. The NGO and the men of the peasants' association are troubled by this project, which they see as an economic failure. They plan not to extend credit to corn mills again. To build a dynamic economic project takes many different skills, and always lots of time.
Time is often the problem for women entrepreneurs.
Women have too much domestic work, and that work takes too much time. Most micro-enterprise programmes look for investments that will save time and make labour efficient. For example, agricultural projects may need irrigation systems, a good road or improved machines. Women's greatest needs for saving time are usually in the home. They need easier access to water, equipment for washing and cooking, or mills for grinding grains.