What: The International Partners Meeting on the AUC-ILO Joint Programme on Decent Work for the Transformation of the Informal Economy (2020-2024).
When: 20 November 2019.
Where: The meeting will take place at the African Union Headquarters, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Small Conference Room 2.
Who: The meeting will be co-organized by the African Union Commission Department of Social and the International Labour Organization (ILO). The Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Security of
Burkina Faso will be invited to participate in his capacity as the Chair of the Bureau of the Third ordinary Session of the Specialized technical Committee on Social Development, Labour and Employment.
Why: In view of ensuring the effective joint implementation of the AU and UN policies on the transformation of the informal economy, and in line with the AU-UN Coordination Framework, as well as of African Labour Ministers Declaration, the AU Executive Council adopted the AUC-ILO Joint Programme Decent Work for the Transformation of the Informal Economy.
It is essential to ensure sustainable funding for a comprehensive implementation of the Joint Programme and achieve the development objectives towards the transformation of the informal economy in Africa. Subsequently, in line with the sixth Key Priority Area of the Ouaga+10 Declaration and Plan of Action ‘Partnerships and Resources Mobilization’, the Commission and ILO will deploy a strategy with targeted activities on partnership building and resources mobilization.
Objectives:
The specific objectives for the meeting are:
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Bring the informal economy world on the stage;
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Information and awareness of international partners on the programme, stimulating interest among development partners in the program;
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International partners expression of interest and pledging in support of the program;
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Strategic partnerships for enhanced implementation forged with development partners.
Expected Outcome:
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The event will have the following outcomes:
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Publicity gained and a database of key contact for regular communication;
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Potential technical and financial partnerships identified;
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Actionable suggestions and follow-up actions for the international partners;
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Key contacts database creation initiated.
Participants:
The meeting brings together representatives from bilateral and multilateral partners, including UN Agencies, foundations, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) as well as others.
Notes to the Editor:
Despite its challenges, the informal economy remains a key component of most economies in Sub-Saharan Africa. According to data from the World Bank’s work on bench-marking business regulations, the size of the informal economy as a percentage of gross national income (GNI), ranges from under 30 percent in South Africa, one of two the continent’s largest economies, to almost 60 percent in Nigeria, Tanzania and Zimbabwe. The average size in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is 42% of the GDP.
These statistics are convergent with the most recent published by the International Monetary Fund. On average, its share reached almost 38 percent of GDP during 2010–14, compared to 17% in OECD countries, 40% in Latin America and Caribbean, and 34% in south Asia. It contributes close to 50% of the GDP in oil exporter countries. According to the IMF, the size of informal economies in sub-Saharan Africa ranges from a 20 to 25 percent of GDP in Mauritius, South Africa, and Namibia to 50 to 65 percent in Tanzania and Nigeria.
The characteristics of the informal economy in Africa underline its heterogeneity, the lack of recognition, lack of voice and representation in policy dialogue processes, low productivity level aggravated by weak social security coverage if any, and bad working conditions all resulting in a high level of working poverty (31%, ILO 2018). Other characteristics relate to the gender and youth predominant presence, as well as the contribution to migration ins search for better labour income and working conditions.
Pursuing its policy objectives on the transformation of the informal economy, AU leaders set ambitious targets to be achieved by 2023 in the First Ten Year Implementation Plan of the Agenda 2063, in terms of upgrading of the informal economy units (at least 20% of informal sector ventures into the formal sector, 50% of which will be owned by women), and in terms of social security extension to workers in the informal economy (at least 20% of informal sector ventures into the formal sector, 50% of which will be owned by women).
Representatives of the media are invited to cover the opening ceremony of the meeting on 20th November 2019 starting from 9:00am.
For media inquiries, please contact:
1. Mr. Gamal Ahmed A. Karrar| Communication Officer| Directorate of Information and Communication, African Union Commission | E-mail:
GamalK@africa-union.org
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