Social protection in informal economy Book: NGOs' perspectives with Simon Ndembeke, Plan International

The book Extending coverage: Social protection and the informal economy drafted during the RNSF Regional Workshop held last February in Kenya involved a mixed group of researchers, regional experts, members of civil society organizations, and public officers.

One of them was Simon Ndembeka, who works for Plan International UK, an implementing partner of the RNSF project. Plan International promotes the safeguarding of children in more than 50 countries focusing on child participation, education, economic security, emergencies, health, protection, sexual health, and water and sanitation.

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Plan international currently implements the EU-funded project “Empowerment for better livelihoods, including skills development and vocational education and training,  for marginalised and vulnerable persons and people dependent on the informal economy” in partnership with Voluntary Service Overseas, the Community  Development  and  Relief  Trust, Uhamasishaji  Hifadhi  Kisarawe, Vocational Training and Education Authority. It aims at reducing poverty and exclusion among vulnerable groups dependent on the informal sector in Tanzania, improving and increasing opportunities for wage and self-employment among marginalised young men and women dependent on the informal sector in Dar-es-Salaam, Pwani, Morogoro, Lindi and Mtwara regions.

It promotes in particular youth participation and linkages with government and the private sector. During the workshop, Simon presented the experience of the Youth Forums: established in 9 district, these forums set their own agenda and discuss youth livelihood issues, help each other learn about government programmes and policies, identify gaps, run
information campaigns, and organise young people to advocate for change. For more details, you can find this best practice in the book (p. 105).

Here are his impressions on the workshop experience:

Website: https://plan-international.org/tanzania