Small-Scale Enterprises in the Informal Sector in Ouagadougou, Burkina-Faso

Problems of small-scale enterprises in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso Issues: Description of trade; kind of working place; size of groundand outlets/stalls; manufactured goods; offered services; duration ofpresent work up to now; duration of living in Ouagadougou; formeractivity as apprentice, as worker in other trades, as industrial workeror as farmer; duration of these activities; former unemployment; numberof employees, day labourers, assistants and apprentices in theenterprise; co-partners and owner of enterprise; number of employeesduring the last two years; problems which impede the development oftrade and commerce; kind of book-keeping; membership in associationsand unions; satisfaction with the functioning of the unions;willingness to join such unions later; other kinds of cooperation;openness of trade for members of other nations, ethnic groups or caste;workshop ownership and rental value; present size and ideal size ofworkshop as well as other commercial areas used; valuation of businesslocation and infrastructure; distance between place of residence andworking place; problems to get location; additional income; averagedincome per week of additional job; education and occupation of parents;kind, duration and valuation of own education and training; person whoinduced interviewee to choose occupation; occupation and education ofthis person; satisfaction with education; desired additional education;willingness to contribute to the expenses of supplementary trainingcourses; terms of payment and other services for apprentices such asprovision of living space; amount of money paid to instructor byapprentices; amount of apprentice´s pay; difficulties to hire labour;number of employees, who left the enterprise during the last two years;raw materials used, supply and origin; stock; stopping production dueto a lack of raw materials; borrowing to obtain row materials and kindof credit; tools, machines and means of transport used as well as termsof acquisition, origin and condition; supply problems and strategiesused to solve them; mode of contacting customers and main customergroups; seasonal marketing problems; competition; increasing inproduction and sales during the last two years or reasons forstagnation; intended acquisition of machines for increasing productionand sales; costs, financing and consequences for number of staff;necessity and problems to get a trading and other licenses; particularsregarding taxes paid; registration at national agency or organisation;information on business and other private expenses; information oninitial capital; additional investments during the last two years andconsequences for employment; frequency of sales losses; weeklyturnover; receipt of bank and government loans; problems to get loans;use of credits and financial capacity of repayment; necessity ofgovernment assistance and kind of support needed. Demography: Sex; age.