Social Protection and Informal Workers in Sub-Saharan Africa: Lived Realities and Associational Experiences from Tanzania and Kenya

Informal labor markets are prevalent in Sub-Saharan Africa, and most workers have limited access to official social protection. This book explores how the global social protection agenda interacts with informal contexts and how it fits with the realities of informal workers in Kenya and Tanzania. It compares the social protection models conceptualized and implemented by public authorities with those developed by informal workers' collective associations. The book will be of interest to academics, development practitioners, and policy communities.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 258 pages
Publication date: 31 May 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

In Sub-Saharan Africa, the promotion of social protection faces a complex backdrop where informal labor markets prevail, and the majority of workers endure uncertain livelihoods with limited access to formal social protection. The dominant social protection agenda and associated literature primarily revolve around donor and state programs, even though their coverage is limited to specific segments of the population and falls far short of meeting the diverse needs of the workforce. In such circumstances, individuals resort to various means of protection and cushioning against risks and vulnerabilities, including diverse forms of collective self-organization that offer alternative forms of social protection. These informal, bottom-up approaches to social protection are relatively nascent in the discourse on social protection and require further exploration.

This book aims to address this gap by examining three critical sectors of informal work in Kenya and Tanzania: transport, construction, and micro-trade. It delves into the interplay between the global social protection agenda and informal contexts, exploring how it aligns with the realities of informal workers. By comparing and contrasting the social protection models conceptualized and implemented by public authorities in Tanzania and Kenya with the collective associations of informal workers, the authors aim to shed light on the diverse mechanisms and approaches to social protection in these contexts.

The book will appeal to academics specializing in International Development Studies, Political Economy, and African Studies, as well as development practitioners and policy communities. It offers valuable insights into the complexities of social protection in informal economies, providing a basis for further research, policy development, and interventions that promote inclusive and sustainable livelihoods for all workers, regardless of their employment status.

Weight: 453g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032003290