Policies in São Tomé and Príncipe: A Mixed-Methods Exploration

São Tomé and Príncipe is a small island nation in West Africa where business policies have significant impacts on economic development. A mixed-methods approach is employed, combining quantitative data from surveys with qualitative insights from interviews and case studies. Data collection covers both urban and rural areas to ensure comprehensive coverage of the population. The findings indicate that access to finance remains a critical barrier, affecting over half (52%) of surveyed businesses in São Tomé and Príncipe. The study highlights the importance of addressing financial accessibility issues through targeted policy interventions. These include increasing availability of microfinance institutions and improving credit scoring systems. Policymakers are encouraged to implement measures that enhance access to finance, such as subsidies for microfinance services and regulatory reforms to improve lending practices.