English

The International Labour Organization (ILO) estimates that approximately 62% of the global employed population operates within the informal economy.1 However, this figure is even higher in low-income countries, where informal employment may account up to 90% of total employment. In Kenya specifically, the informal sector provides employment to 83% of the total employment (16 million jobs), contributing an estimated32.8% to the GDP (World Economics, 2024). Recognizing the importance of the informal sector, the government of Kenya has implemented various policy measures, initiatives,and strategies to support it. These efforts include improving access to finance, and fostering collaboration among government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and the private sector to support informal businesses.

The objective of this study was to determine the reasons why informal workers are unable or unwilling to join unions and what are the opportunities to increase union membership and participation. The research study employed both qualitative and quantitative methods adopting participatory and consultative approaches. The study was developed and conducted through collaboration between GFI, SEWA, DRL, AUKMW and BOTTAX Kenya, and incorporated grassroot enumerators in designing and execution of the study.

The study established the following as barriers preventing informal sector workers from joining unions include; First, is the lack of awareness among informal workers on the registration process, the role of trade unions, and the benefits associated with union membership. Secondly is the inconsistency in income hampering workers’ ability to commit financially to union membership. Thirdly is the poor governance strategies within the unions, making them less appealing or effective for potential members. Lastly, is the presence of selfish interests among union officials further preventing informal workers from seeking union representation.

This report makes the following recommendations: First, trade unions must prioritize awareness campaigns among informal workers to highlight the benefits of union membership. Secondly, trade unions should increase advocacy around fair wages and improve working conditions ensuring compliance with minimum wage requirements and legally mandated work protections. Third, a mechanism should be established by trade unions to certify individuals who qualify through on-the-job training. Lastly, trade unions should apply a gender lens into the design and Implementation of their work to ensure that the needs and inputs of women, are mainstreamed into their operations.

The world of work has been steadily transitioning to a data-driven economy where development priorities, policy advocacy, and socio-economic strategies are being generated and extracted at a high level with minimal input or ownership from worker organizations on the ground. Multiple barriers have prevented informal workers and grassroots organizations from playing a central role, foremost of which has been the limited capacity of the informal sector to collect, assess and disseminate essential information to development advocates and policy-makers.

Global Fairness Initiative believes that local, grassroots-based entities have the right to set the standards for data collection. By working with partners in anchor locations, GFI is instituting a model of data collection that is worker-centric and locally produced and owned. We work within the local context to empower organizations to define key issues and create sustainable solutions rooted in equity and women’s empowerment. With knowledge building being core to the model, we use a bottoms-up, comprehensive Trainer of Trainer (TOT) strategy to augment the internal capacity of community partners, research enumerators, and worker unions.

In collaboration with regional data specialists, grassroots entities have hands-on experience learning and using proper methodologies and research techniques, planning implementation strategies, conducting questionnaires and facilitating focus group discussion, using data collection software, compiling information, and analyzing results to enhance awareness about workers and their rights. This responsive, real-time data is retained by those closest to the issue to provide them with targeted information necessary for effective bargaining power with government and external stakeholders, thus leading to more effective and sustainable changes for workers. Engagement at the grassroots level serves to bridge the ‘data divide’, and engenders local communities to make informed decisions and fosters social and economic development driven by workers themselves.

Women compose a majority of members within worker associations and unions, however, leadership positions and high-ranking offices remain dominated by men. Although progress has been made over the past half century towards achieving gender equality in the fields of employment, business, political participation, and leadership, the situation of informal women workers remains harsh, and the implementation of programs targeting gender equalities and societal changes has been slow and uneven.

This report investigates the underrepresentation of informal women workers in Africa’s organizing movement, with a focus on six African countries: Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Liberia, Rwanda, South Africa, and Tunisia. It underscores why womenare not joining organizing movements (unions and workers’ associations), and when they do, why do they continue to face discrimination and seldom reach leadership positions.
Through examining the context of informal women workers’ participation, we can outline and understand the challenges that stymie their ability to obtain leadership positions, and what are the opportunities for overcoming these barriers.

Over the past decade, climate disasters in India have upended thousands of small and marginal producers and workers lives and livelihoods. Across sectors, informal and vulnerable workers, primarily women, are disproportionately impacted by climate change and are pushed further into poverty as they struggle on the front lines of the climate crises.

Since 2000, the Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA) and the American India Foundation (AIF) have worked to enhance financial stability and prosperity for its members through the transition to green technology and into the green economy in what is termed as building ‘climate resilience’. SEWA and AIF help build the skills, capacity, and confidence of workers to have livelihood security and resources to withstand the changing physical landscape and the significant increase of climate and economic shocks.

In 2024, Global Fairness Initiative (GFI), an international NGO with experience in evaluating economic empowerment of women, assessed the impact of SEWA’s and AIF’S on-going initiatives designed to engender inclusive financial growth and development through climate resilience. The following report focuses specifically on SEWA’s and AIF’s efforts, and the economic and social impact of those efforts, while also articulating the investment framework and financial partners and model used within each case study. The purpose of the report is to present different case examples of climate-linked financial models and their scope, structure and impact.

Through primary and secondary data collection, GFI’s assessment found that small and marginal producers, mainly women, gain stability and security as a result of targeted financial solutions that address specific climate challenges. When initial investments are activated, women producers reported sustained increases in their income, and a reinvestment of their income into their businesses and to climate friendly solutions linked to livelihood security. Furthermore, opportunities for expanded investments by SEWA and AIF to sustain and scale up successful models can provide further wrap-around support to deepen resilience against climate shocks for workers and communities.