Enhancing Productivity in the Urban Informal Economy
The report argues for a radical and new policy paradigm, to promote inclusion of informal workers in urban dialogues, and mainstream the informal economy in urban policies and strategies. Over the last 20 years knowledge has grown – of the potential of informal employment to provide households with pathways out of poverty, communities with accessible and affordable goods and services, and cities with vibrant sites of economic and social exchange – and of the ways in which cities can help make informal employment more secure. This document distills the hard-won insights of informal workers, without whom innovative, sustainable and inclusive urban development is impossible, on how to encourage recognition of their economic, environmental, and social contributions; to promote the inclusion of informal workers in urban policy and planning; and to protect and enhance their livelihoods. The case studies included in the document demonstrate vividly how micro-innovations transform working lives and create significant ‘urban practices’ that are central to living and thriving in the city.
