2.3 Direct actions in communities
Principal research question details: What are the key proven direct actions at local level that contribute to the successful enhancement of livelihoods and working conditions for those working in informal economy enterprises with special attention to social inclusion?
General finding: Note that holistic approaches to projects tend to have better results. A criterion for the level of holistic approaches used in the project, including establishing linkages with various stakeholders, should be included in monitoring programming.
Summary of Recommendations on Direct Informal Economy Actions in Communities
1. Conduct assessment to identify the most likely successful community level mechanisms to support people dependent on the IE in a specific context. Avoid provision of standard support packages across all settings. Review the need for comparatively higher focus on different means of support such as training, mentoring, mobile technologies and/or micro-finance (or other actions) in accordance with situation. Design support accordingly.
2. Determine need for relative emphasis of content when carrying out activities on leadership/group management, life skills, rights awareness, versus enterprise development and operations. Within enterprise development content, analyse relative need for focus of support on business feasibility, production, marketing, finance and human resources management. Prioritise enterprise support in accordance with identified needs.
3. Support social behaviour change communications (SBCC) on the rights of people dependent on the IE to decent work conditions and environmental sustainability of IE work with all stakeholders. Incorporate innovative means, including digital technologies, to raise awareness and carry out project actions. Ensure that sufficient time and resources are allocated for this purpose.
4. Ensure clear and detailed operational targets on IE that are set with the participation of stakeholders over a realistic implementation time period. Ensure that implementers have the necessary capacities to provide needed support to reach the targets in the local context, including on mobile technologies.
5. Ensure good fit between the needs of people dependent on the IE in a specific context and available micro finance services. Promote training on financial education among stakeholders including implementing agencies and IE community members. Provide follow-up mentoring and support to ensure community members are able to use available micro finance services following financial education.
6. Provide a life cycle approach to design of financial services. Promote savings and not only credit activities. Ensure adapted and clear loan repayment mechanisms.
7. Ensure vocational education and skills training corresponds to labour market needs in accordance with thorough analysis. Include private and public sector in the analysis.
8. Engage in mapping of available training services and carry out assessment of fit between applicants’ wishes, labour market needs and available training services. Include analysis of apprenticeship/mentoring possibilities with formal and informal enterprises. Provide support for job placement and/or launching of self-employment prior to completion of training.
SOURCE: RNSF research - Volume 4.2.
DIRECT ACTIONS IN COMMUNITIES: consult the list of GOOD PRACTICES
SUB-TOPICS:
2.3.1 Social and behaviour change communications
Subject areas: SBCC on
- Human rights (including equity) of IE entrepreneurs and workers including right to work.
- Right to access decent work including implementation of labour laws.
- Promotion of social norms supportive of enhancing opportunities for those dependent on the informal economy
2.3.2 Entrepreneurship: capacity strengthening on economic activities.
2.3.3. Information Technology (IT) and enhancing of livelihoods of people dependent on the IE
2.3.4 Leadership, life skills, empowerment training, literacy/numeracy
2.3.6 Vocational education/skills training
2.3.7. Labour market analysis to determine types of education/training provided