In many cities around the world, the informal economy provides the majority of employment opportunities and is often a substantial, if not the main, contributor to a country’s GDP.
This is particularly the case in Africa, where the process of structural change has been slow and a bulging youth population has had to create its own jobs in the low-productivity urban informal economy, for lack of other options. DFID’s Economic Development Strategy, published in January 2017, recognises the important role the informal economy plays in providing livelihoods for the poorest and most marginalised people.
Papers, case studies, presentations and research materials on this topic include: