Women in Burundi face structural and systemic barriers in entrepreneurship due to gender inequalities, financial exclusion, and socio-cultural constraints. This study critically examines women’s access to economic opportunities, highlighting disparities in education, employment, and financial resources. Despite entrepreneurship being a key pathway to economic independence, most women operate in the informal sector, facing limited access to markets, networks, and funding. Institutional barriers, such as customary land laws restricting female ownership, further hinder access to financial services, as collateral requirements disproportionately disadvantage women. Applying institutional theory, this study argues that Burundi’s entrepreneurship policies lack gender responsiveness, impeding women-led SME development. The study findings suggest that the government of Burundi needs to implement policy reform, adopt inclusive financial mechanisms, and targeted entrepreneurship programs, which are essential to fostering sustainable economic growth. This study contributes to discussions on gender equity in entrepreneurship, emphasising the need for context-specific interventions in fragile economies.