Digital Transformation and Strategic Resilience: A Framework for Sustainable Women Entrepreneurship in Zimbabwe’s Post-Covid Economy

Musitaffa Mweha
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Musitaffa Mweha: Programme Management, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Harare, Zimbabwe

International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, 2025, vol. 9, issue 14, 1269-1281

Abstract: This study examines how digital transformation enables strategic resilience among women entrepreneurs in Zimbabwe’s volatile post-COVID economy. Through a comprehensive desk review of academic literature, policy documents, and industry reports (2020-2025), the research identifies key mechanisms by which digital technologies such as mobile money, e-commerce platforms, and digital financial services help women entrepreneurs overcome traditional barriers to market access, financial inclusion, and supply chain disruptions. Findings reveal a staged progression in digital adoption, with mobile technologies serving as critical entry points due to Zimbabwe’s high mobile penetration (102.26%). Women entrepreneurs leverage these tools to expand markets, secure alternative financing, enhance operational flexibility, and innovate business models, demonstrating remarkable adaptability amid economic instability. The study develops a conceptual framework for sustainable women entrepreneurship, integrating five dimensions: digital literacy, technology-enabled financial inclusion, digital market expansion, innovation-driven business models, and collaborative digital ecosystems. Four emerging sustainable business models are identified, digitally enhanced traditional enterprises, digital service innovators, circular economy facilitators, and digital community enterprises each combining profitability with social impact. However, persistent challenges include infrastructure gaps, gender-specific constraints (e.g., time poverty and cultural norms), and fragmented policy support. Practical implications highlight the need for integrated, gender-responsive policies, targeted financial products, and capacity-building programs that address both digital and entrepreneurial resilience. The research contributes to literature on gender, digital entrepreneurship, and strategic resilience in developing economies, offering actionable insights for policymakers, financial institutions, and support organizations. Ultimately, the study underscores digital transformation as a vital enabler of sustainable women-led enterprises in Zimbabwe’s evolving economic landscape, advocating for systemic support to harness its full potential.

Date: 2025
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