they also have much less work experience given their overall low level of labour force participation affording them fewer opportunities to acquire skills identify potential business opportunities and set aside savings women s limited work experience before starting a business is likely to drive a higher attrition rate since business experience is critical for success oecdidrc across countries with available data algeria egypt tunisia women have a higher fear of failure believe less in their own capabilities are less connected to other entrepreneurs and are less optimistic about potential business opportunities figure in the mena region the share of entrepreneurial activity resulting from necessity rather than opportunity tends to be high and has been increasing over the past years gem in egypt for instance the share of men and women entrepreneurs driven by necessity rose from in to in