Tag: Informal economy
Small-scale cross-border trade in Africa: Why it matters and how it should be supported
05 Jun 18 NewsSmall-scale cross-border trade can play a fundamental role in contributing to poverty reduction and food security across Africa. How can it be supported to ensure that it delivers ...
Informal cross-border trading – review of the simplified trade regimes in east and southern Africa
08 Mar 18 PublicationsThis Trade Brief presents a discussion of the importance of Informal Cross-Border Trading (ICBT) for socio-economic development in the east and southern Africa region. Althoug...
Borderline: Women in informal trade want to do business legally and become more prosperous
06 Mar 18 NewsCross-border trade has broad women’s economic empowerment, poverty alleviation and development ramifications in many developing countries.
UNCTAD travelled to half a dozen front...
Informal WTO Ministerial gathering on the sidelines of the WEF emphasises the need for political discussion on development
02 Feb 18 NewsThe Informal World Trade Organisation (WTO) Ministerial Gathering on the side-lines of World Economic Forum (WEF) was convened by Switzerland on 26 January 2018 as an opportunity f...
Small-scale cross-border traders call on DRC to enforce better tax regime
06 Oct 17 NewsSmall-scale traders along the Rubavu-Goma border have raised concerns over what they perceive as an ‘illegal tax’ levied on them by DR Congo officials.
Their protest is hinged...
In New York, AU Ministers hold informal consultations on the matter of reservations made on CFTA modalities on the liberalization of trade in goods
25 Sep 17 NewsAt the backdrop of the 72nd United Nations General Assembly, on 21st September 2017 in the Conference Room of the African Union Permanent Mission in New York (USA), Ministers of Tr...
Agribusinesses and African smallholders seize $1 trillion food market as meals replace minerals to restart African economic growth
06 Sep 17 NewsThe power of entrepreneurs and the free market is driving Africa’s economic growth from food production, as business wakes up to opportunities of a rapidly growing food market in...
Fishing to live: Time for action to support and protect small-scale fisheries
24 Aug 17 NewsNew study maps the policy dilemmas affecting those who provide most of the fish we eat
Two-thirds of the caught fish that humans eat are taken by small-scale fishers, many using c...
Harnessing rather than suppressing informal trade can give Africa a boost
25 May 17 NewsFAO study offers policy guidance for linking half of all cross-border trade to development goals
Africa’s vast but informal cross-border trade can contribute to improving liveli...
Expert Group Meeting on Trade Finance: Informal report by the WTO Secretariat
16 May 17 NewsThe objective of the March 2017 meeting was twofold: (i) to take stock of the current market situation (ii) to examine possible areas of cooperation between participants based on p...
Agriculture and commodities
04 Jan 17 Themestralac’s work in this area examines Africa’s trade in agriculture and commodities and the emerging challenges and opportunities for sustainability resulting from changes in glo...
Finance and development
04 Jan 17 ThemesFinancial services, foreign investment, and international aid are essential for improved trade and long-term development in poor economies. tralac’s work in this area examines ho...
African trade and integration
04 Jan 17 Themestralac’s primary aim is to help build capacity for government officials, policymakers, and regional organisations to more adequately address the most pressing trade matters facin...
People need affordable food, but prices must provide decent livelihoods for small-scale family farmers
04 Oct 16 NewsFAO Director-General stresses the role of trade in ensuring global food security and adaptation to climate change
Declining prices could thwart international efforts to eradicate ...
Borderland Biashara: Mapping the cross border, national and regional trade in the East African informal economy
13 Jun 16 NewsThe informal economy of East Africa must be addressed strategically for the sustainable impact of trade related growth initiatives in the region to take root and flourish. Recogniz...
Informal settlements and climate change: An opportunity and challenge for cities of emerging economies
04 May 16 NewsThe unprecedented growth of cities in emerging economies, coupled with the legacy of apartheid in South Africa has, since the early 1990s, led to a rapid increase in informal settl...
NSA launches Informal Cross Border Trade report
29 Apr 16 NewsThe Namibia Statistics Agency conducted an Informal Cross Border Trade Survey (ICBTS) in September 2015. This is the second ICBTS with the first one conducted in November 2014. NSA...
Addressing informal cross-border trade and security in IGAD region
24 Mar 16 NewsIGAD's Conflict Early Waming and Response Mechanism (CEWARN) hosted a meeting of IGAD Member State officials of Trade, Customs and Security on Addressing the nexus between Informal...
A year in the lives of smallholder farmers
29 Feb 16 News
There are an estimated 500 million smallholder farming households globally, who comprise a large proportion of the world’s poor living on less than $2 a day. In CGAP’s Smallh...
Persecuted informal sector keeping millions afloat
11 Jan 16 NewsBackyard motor mechanics, vegetable sellers, cigarette hawkers, hairdressers. They are the lifeline of South Africa, employing and keeping millions out of poverty.
In Cape Town, t...