Abstract
The entrepreneurial ecosystem in Comoros remains critically under-researched, with a notable gap in diagnostic frameworks that integrate socio-cultural dynamics with economic policy analysis to understand enterprise development constraints. This working paper aims to develop and apply a novel diagnostic framework to assess the state of the entrepreneurial ecosystem, identifying key bottlenecks and catalysts for sustainable enterprise growth. The study employs a mixed-methods approach, synthesising longitudinal macroeconomic data with primary data from semi-structured interviews and focus groups with entrepreneurs, investors, and policymakers. Analysis reveals a critical deficit in early-stage risk capital, with over 80% of surveyed entrepreneurs citing access to finance as the principal constraint. A dominant theme was the reliance on informal, kinship-based networks for resource mobilisation, which simultaneously enables survival but limits scaling. The ecosystem is characterised by fragmented support structures and a policy environment that inadequately addresses the specific financing and capability-building needs of micro and small enterprises. Policymakers should prioritise the establishment of a dedicated venture capital fund for early-stage businesses and implement formal mentorship programmes to strengthen managerial capabilities beyond informal networks. entrepreneurial ecosystems, diagnostic framework, enterprise development, access to finance, Comoros This paper provides the first integrated diagnostic framework for the Comorian entrepreneurial ecosystem, introducing a novel policy mechanism that links informal network analysis with formal institutional development.