Co-creating better work places for micro-enterprises
As part of efforts to facilitate the transition from the informal economy to the formal, the ILO convened a two-day meeting to co-create designs of workspaces and plans to enhance the sustainability of identified enterprises.
(ILO News, Bulawayo) The ILO convened a co-creation workshop in the City of Bulawayo to facilitate workspace design for informal traders; develop a strategy to enhance the sustainability of micro-enterprises; and to enhance the sustainability effectiveness of associations that represent informal economy workers. The work is part of the Employment Promotion and Labour Market Governance programme, which seeks to improve working conditions and productivity for workers in the informal economy.
Co-creation is a collaborative development approach that taps into expertise, skills and experience of subject experts and target groups by identifying a challenge and jointly designing appropriate solutions and interventions.
The first area of discussion was the design of the workspace with participants visualising their desired workspaces, features and amenities. Proposals that were considered as the most innovative were adopted and improved on collectively. These were: a common client service area such as a communal reception, on demand boardrooms and meeting spaces, as well as improved restrooms and spaces for nursing mothers.
Architects will be engaged to review the proposals and develop them further.
The second area of discussion centred on improving working conditions, such as the physical environment and ergonomics, hours of work, employment contracts and wages, as well as innovative approaches that could be adopted to provide basic social protection for informal sector workers.
The informal economy operators also had an opportunity to spell-out the services they expect from their business associations. Among them, were for the associations to introduce new and improved services, by creating useful business linkages; improve information sharing and the structuring of partnerships.
The final discussions were about developing a sustainability framework focussing attention on whether the set ambition will be met with commitment of equal measure. Concern was voiced on whether the proposed activities would lead to sustainable change of livelihoods for the participating communities. It was agreed that sustainability mechanisms had to be in place to ensure that the services remained available beyond the ILO programme. As part of the measures to safeguard viability and success of the intervention, the responsibilities of the different actors were discussed.
Work on the intervention is expected to start in January 2020 and to conclude by July 2020.
The co-creation meeting provided a unique and timely platform for informal economy stakeholders to collaborate. It was evident from the interaction that the inclusive approach had helped to create common understanding of the problem, as well to deepen the spirit of shared ownership and decision-making. More importantly, the rigorous discussions will ensure a more informed design and implementation of the programme to help facilitate the transition from the informal to the formal economy.
This co-creation exercise brought together entrepreneurs; informal economy associations; local authority officials; government officials; private sector and ILO experts in the areas of enterprise development and the informal economy. The diverse range of stakeholders ensured that the result was a coming together of individual perspectives, interests and expectations.
Co-creation is a collaborative development approach that taps into expertise, skills and experience of subject experts and target groups by identifying a challenge and jointly designing appropriate solutions and interventions.
The first area of discussion was the design of the workspace with participants visualising their desired workspaces, features and amenities. Proposals that were considered as the most innovative were adopted and improved on collectively. These were: a common client service area such as a communal reception, on demand boardrooms and meeting spaces, as well as improved restrooms and spaces for nursing mothers.
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Architects will be engaged to review the proposals and develop them further.
The second area of discussion centred on improving working conditions, such as the physical environment and ergonomics, hours of work, employment contracts and wages, as well as innovative approaches that could be adopted to provide basic social protection for informal sector workers.
The informal economy operators also had an opportunity to spell-out the services they expect from their business associations. Among them, were for the associations to introduce new and improved services, by creating useful business linkages; improve information sharing and the structuring of partnerships.
The final discussions were about developing a sustainability framework focussing attention on whether the set ambition will be met with commitment of equal measure. Concern was voiced on whether the proposed activities would lead to sustainable change of livelihoods for the participating communities. It was agreed that sustainability mechanisms had to be in place to ensure that the services remained available beyond the ILO programme. As part of the measures to safeguard viability and success of the intervention, the responsibilities of the different actors were discussed.
Work on the intervention is expected to start in January 2020 and to conclude by July 2020.
The co-creation meeting provided a unique and timely platform for informal economy stakeholders to collaborate. It was evident from the interaction that the inclusive approach had helped to create common understanding of the problem, as well to deepen the spirit of shared ownership and decision-making. More importantly, the rigorous discussions will ensure a more informed design and implementation of the programme to help facilitate the transition from the informal to the formal economy.
This co-creation exercise brought together entrepreneurs; informal economy associations; local authority officials; government officials; private sector and ILO experts in the areas of enterprise development and the informal economy. The diverse range of stakeholders ensured that the result was a coming together of individual perspectives, interests and expectations.