From Military Skills to Entrepreneurial Intention: The Mediating Role of Self-Efficacy in a Post-Conflict Economy

Purpose: This study examines whether perceived military skills transferability (PMST) influences entrepreneurial intention (EI) in a post-conflict economy. Drawing on Social Cognitive Theory, it tests entrepreneurial self-efficacy (ESE) as a mediator and perceived environmental hardship as a moderator.Design/methodology/approach: A quantitative cross-sectional survey was conducted with 270 working-age adults across three regions of South Sudan (Juba/Central Equatoria, Upper Nile and Western Bahr el Ghazal) between July and October 2025 using paper-based and online questionnaires. Hypotheses were tested using hierarchical regression and PROCESS-based mediation (Model 4) and moderation (Model 1) with 5,000 bootstrap resamples.Findings: PMST is positively associated with EI. ESE mediates this relationship (indirect-only): the bootstrapped indirect effect is significant and the PMST→EI direct effect becomes non-significant when ESE is included. Perceived environmental hardship weakens the positive PMST–EI relationship. Resilience is positively related to EI but does not moderate the focal relationship.Research limitations/implications: The cross-sectional design limits causal inference and self-reports may introduce common method bias. Future research should use longitudinal and comparative designs and examine behavioral outcomes (e.g., business start-up).Practical implications: Reintegration and entrepreneurship programs should combine skills-recognition and ESE-building (e.g., mastery-based training and mentoring) with ecosystem interventions that reduce contextual constraints.Social implications: Supporting entrepreneurship among individuals with military experience may contribute to livelihood recovery, inclusion and reintegration in fragile settings.Originality/value: The study integrates perceived skills transferability, cognitive mechanisms and contextual constraints to explain entrepreneurial intention in a fragile, post-conflict economy.Type of paper: Research paper.Keywords: perceived skills transferability; entrepreneurial self-efficacy; entrepreneurial intention; environmental hardship; resilience; post-conflict; fragile economy.