14 September 2023

Namibia Takes a Bold Step Towards Formalizing the Informal Economy

18 September 2023

Informal sector contributes 56% to labour force

14 September 2023

The Integration of the Informal Sector Can Propel Financial Reach

WHAT WE DO

Research

We investigate and identify challenges and opportunities for informal workers .

Infrastructure Development

We recommend suitable ways in which transformation of informal workers can be accommodated in spatial development .

Support Services

We provide training, advocacy, visibility and facilitate engagements with relevant stakeholders.

Data Collection

We collect data on the informal economy for evidence based advocacy and project implementation.

The COVID-19 pandemic has created a global crisis, unparalleled in history. The pandemic has brought shock to the overall economic stability and survival of informal workers as many remain economically and socially marginalized which weakens their voice and representation in decision-making processes that impact their livelihoods and wellbeing. Social protection systems must be implemented, it is critical that longer-term thinking about how income security may be achieved are a part of the response to the crisis. A creative collaboration between the government and organizations of informal workers is needed to advance this agenda.

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NEWS & EVENTS

The Informal Economy’s Informal Edge: Why Formalisation Could Stifle Entrepreneurial Spirit

John Mofuka By John Mofuka 21 July 2024 While street food stalls, artisanal workshops, and other informal marketplaces have long been the lifeblood of many communities, authorities increasingly pressure vendors to conform to rigid regulations. As this vibrant tapestry of entrepreneurial activity faces increased scrutiny, a critical question arises: Should these informal economies be forced into …

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Acknowledging the Informal Sector is Overdue

Danny Meyer By Danny Meyer 25 July 2024 In African countries, the informal sector is an important provider of goods and services to locals in urban and rural areas. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) says in Africa close to 83% of jobs and 85% in sub-Saharan Africa are informal. Following the hosting of a policy …

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Compassionate Governance Needed in the Informal Sector

Ndumba J Kamwanyah By Ndumba J Kamwanyah 25 August 2024 Windhoek Mayor Queen Kamati’s recent site visits to assess traffic flow and enforce by-laws, particularly concerning illegal trading, have sparked a significant debate about the city’s approach to managing its informal sector. While efforts to maintain order and cleanliness in the nation’s capital are understandable, the …

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INTEGRATING INFORMAL SECTOR CAN PROPEL FINANCIAL

Namibia follows global trends in  terms of the informal economy’s contribution to overall economic health. This is according to industrialisation and trade minister Lucia Ipumbu, who said it is estimated the informal economy contributes about 24% of the country’s GDP and around 56% of the labour force. These significant inputs further justify the formalisation of the …

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Namibia Takes a Bold Step Towards Formalizing the Informal Economy

https://namibia.un.org/en/245839-namibia-takes-bold-step-towards-formalizing-informal-economy The Bank of Namibia, the Government, and the UN organized a Multi-Stakeholder Workshop on the National Diagnostic of Informality. The event was held at the Safari Hotel & Conference Centre in Windhoek and was attended by a varied group of stakeholders from civil society, trade unions, government, private sector, research and academia, and development …

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Informal sector contributes 56% to labour force

Namibia’s informal sector has been recorded to be the country’s largest employer and contributes about 24% to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP). This was revealed by the minister of industrialisation and trade, Lucia Iipumbu, during a workshop late last week to integrate the informal sector into the formal sector. “The informal economy is a …

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Eveline Street market earmarked for renewal

Eveline Street market earmarked for renewal Martin Endjala At its last council meeting on 31 August, the Windhoek Municipality resolved to approve the upgrading of the Onghendambala Market for informal traders on erf 3222 on Eveline Street in the Goreangab residential area. The council approved a request by VISET Namibia, which received funding from the …

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Lay-offs contribute to informal sector growth

The informal sector traders are currently the biggest investors in the Namibian economy, accommodating at least 56% of the country’s workforce. This was revealed by Tangeni Shindondola, the director of the recently established Dynamic Informal Traders’ Association (Dita), on Friday. “This is the fastest-growing employment sector in the country, given massive retrenchments and lay-offs, and …

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Violence on foreign traders condemned

Violence on foreign traders condemned THE Vendors Initiative for Social and Economic Transformation have condemned the violence against foreign informal traders and the confiscation of their goods in Namibia and called on cooperation among vendors regardless of their nationality. In a statement issued by their spokesperson Luise Mwanyangapo yesterday, the organisation condemned the recent incident …

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Traders association confiscates foreign vendors’ goods

Traders association confiscates foreign vendors’ goods THE Native Small Traders Association at Katima Mulilo carried out an operation last week with local vendors to identify illegal foreign vendors and confiscated their goods as way of eliminating competition. The chairperson of the Native Small Traders Association (Nasta), Mulijani Simasiku, told The Namibian yesterday during an interview that they …

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Creating spaces for the informal trader

Creating spaces for the informal trader A street vendor is broadly defined as a person who offers goods or services for sale to the public without having a permanent built up structure but with a temporary static structure or mobile stall. Street vendors may be stationary by occupying space on the pavements or other public/private …

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