Elime Enongene, Hannah Kolle

Department of Guidance and Counselling, HTTTc Kumba,

University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon

To cite: Elime and Kolle (2026, June 10), Counselling Based Entrepreneurial Interventions and Sustainable Small Business Development (SMS) in Kumba Municipality, South West Region, Cameroon. The Journal of Tertiary and Industrial Sciences (JTIS), HTTTC Kumba. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.20597666

Submission Date: 28/03/2026                                                                                        Acceptance Date: 02/05/2026

Abstract

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) play a vital role in economic growth and employment generation, particularly in developing economies. However, their sustainability remains a major challenge, necessitating innovative support mechanisms such as counselling-based entrepreneurial interventions. This study examines the impact of counselling-based entrepreneurial interventions, decision-making skills training, innovation and creativity training, and resilience building on sustainable small business development (SMEs) in Kumba Municipality, Cameroon. Anchored on the Resource-Based View, Rational Decision-Making Theory, and Resilience Theory, the study adopts a descriptive-correlational design. Data were collected from 100 SME owners using a structured questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis. Findings reveal that although a majority of respondents perceive their businesses as currently unsustainable (55%–61%), over 80% acknowledge that counselling interventions significantly enhance entrepreneurial competencies. Regression results indicate that counselling interventions explain 65.9% of the variation in SME sustainability (R² = 0.659), with resilience emerging as the strongest predictor. The study concludes that counselling interventions are critical for building internal entrepreneurial capacities necessary for sustainability, though their effects are gradual. It recommends context-specific, institutionalized counselling programs to strengthen SME development in fast-growing municipalities like Kumba.

Keywords: Counselling interventions, SME sustainability, decision-making, resilience, innovation