Inclusive Development Economic and Social Dimensions Projects

The Informal Workers Organisation and Social Protection research project is a four-year project (2017-2020) being implemented by the Institute for Development Studies (IDS) of the University of Nairobi in collaboration with Roskilde University in Denmark, and Mzumbe University in Tanzania. The overall aim is to understand whether belonging to associations and groups facilitates informal workers’ enrolment in social protection programmes (both formal and informal), and whether this enhances their access to social protection benefits including, those that relate to their working conditions.  This is done with the understanding that the informal sector is exposed to serious inadequacies in the areas of workers’ rights, economic support, voice and representation and social protection. Consequently, the research seeks to address the following questions:

This collaborative research project explores how Somali diaspora groups mobilize, channel and deliver humanitarian assistance to Somalia during complex humanitarian crises.

The research focused on the 'Roll-out of Adolescents Universal Health Scheme (Eduafya) in Kenya and Implications for their Access and Use of Sexual and Reproductive Health Services.' The research sought to investigate whether the roll-out of adolescents’ universal health scheme (under the National Hospital Insurance Fund - NHIF) has enhanced access to and use of adolescent-friendly and focused services (preventive, age, gender and need-specific) in Kenya. Further, the study identified barriers and emerging gaps (policy, facility-level, societal, gender etc.) that promote or hinder adolescents’ interaction, access and consistent use of sexual and reproductive health services. The research focused on diverse populations of adolescents, parents and guardians, health care providers, school heads, and the NHIF adolescents’ scheme managers.