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Informal Workers Organisation and Social Protection (SPIWORK) Project

IDS Role:

To explore the existing and emerging forms of informal workers’ organisations in Kenya, and the implication for social protection, labour agency and welfare of informal workers.

Project Description:

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:

Project Lead / PI:
Prof. Winnie V. Mitullah
Research Professor | Institute for Development Studies | University of Nairobi

Project team

Project contacts

Prof. Winnie V. Mitullah Institute for Development Studies (IDS), University of Nairobi Email:mitullahwinnie@gmail.com

Donor / Funded by

Project Report

More Information about the project:
Collaboration nature of the project:

This project is implemented jointly by researchers from three partner universities: Insitute for Development Studies, University of Nairobi; Roskilde University in Denmark; and Mzumbe University in Tanzania.

Project Thematic Pillar:
Inclusive development: economic and social dimensions
Project Sub-theme:
Social protection and development