Promoting decent work and livelihood opportunities, and supporting inclusive economies in Cities for All

City governments across the world face an urgent challenge: to create the conditions under which more and better employment can offer pathways out of poverty and toward greater economic inclusion. A central component of that challenge is to make informal livelihoods more secure and productive. As the International Labour Organization notes, 'contrary to expectations, informal activities, enterprises and jobs have not only persisted, but have also emerged in new guises and unexpected places.' Cities must encourage the creation of new jobs, but also support the livelihoods that already exist, in order to tackle SDG 8 on Decent Work and Economic Growth; its target 8.5 of achieving full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, and the commitment in the NUA to recognise the contribution of the working poor in the informal economy (para 59). It also contributes to Goal 1, No Poverty, and Goal 11 Sustainable Cities.

This Training Event explores ways that all urban stakeholders – including city governments, urban professionals, worker organisations and other stakeholders - can tackle that challenge. The Event explores fresh approaches to support economic inclusion and pathways out of poverty for informal workers, making a major contribution to the SDG, UN-Habitat and ILO agendas, with special focus on the needs of women, young people and disadvantaged groups, and the role of local authorities in innovative urban management. The Training Event explores how recognition of the contribution of informal workers – for example street vendors, waste pickers, transport workers of home-based workers, and progressive approaches to formalisation – can lead to innovations in urban planning and design, and the creation of a legal and policy framework that supports the working poor. Working with participants, the Event explores examples of good practice where local governments and informal workers have worked in partnership to implement a shared vision of economic inclusion in Cities for All.

The informal economy is the lifeblood of many cities today. It provides jobs for many, in some cities the majority of urban workers, provides flexible services to urban residents, and makes significant contributions to urban economies. The informal economy demonstrates vibrancy, flexibility and entrepreneurship, and supports local supply chains and global exchange. However, diversity makes the informal economy hard to capture in conventional urban policy processes.

The Event demonstrates ways in which innovative urban management and social inclusion objectives have enhanced the economic contribution of informal workers while reducing their vulnerability. While progressive steps to formalisation are welcome, the ubiquity of the informal economy suggests that it will persist in cities for many years, making policy inclusion an urgent imperative. Participants will explore examples of inclusive policy, innovative practice, and how to deal with challenges on the ground, in order to consider innovations that could be applied their own cities.