This study examines the contribution of socio-cultural and micro-political factors to the success or failure of trainees who are trained to start businesses through entrepreneurship development programmes. It also examines the poverty reduction impact of these programmes. In order to understand the potentials and constraints of expanding entrepreneurship, the relationship between micro-entrepreneurs and entrepreneurial cultures are examined, especially in the rural areas. Available literature and qualitative interviews have been used to collect the information. The findings show that while some trainees attend programmes with the intention of starting a business, some attend them because they have been being persuaded by NGO's to participate, because they want to collect certificates, etc. Some of the findings were that the socio-cultural variables have a role in entrepreneurship, the belief that Muslims were good at business and the poverty reduction implications of enterprise development programmes are complex. Recommendations include the need to address 3 vital questions, the purpose, the target group of these programmes and the kind of entrepreneur that needs to be created by these.

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