All publications: microenterprises + small enterprises + informal enterprises + value chains

Policy brief

Work, Institutions and Democracy: Five Interconnected Structural Trends Reshaping the World of Work in Latin America and the Caribbean

Five interconnected structural trends—demographic, technological, environmental, productive and institutional—are reshaping the world of work in Latin America and the Caribbean. This policy brief analyses their implications and advances a central...

Enabling environment for sustainable enterprises

Supporting micro and small enterprises through public policies: Impact assessment of Brazil’s preferential public procurement policy

Productivity Ecosystems for Decent Work in Egypt

Enhancing productivity and improving working conditions in Egypt's marble sector

This report presents key findings from the assessment of Egypt’s marble sector.

Ex-post study

What remains after exit? Evidence of lasting change in northern Afghanistan’s carpet sector

Findings from a low-cost ex-post review

Briefing note

Establishment of Skills Development Fund in Indonesia: Status of the discussion and possible way forward

This briefing note captures the current status of discussions and outlines a practical, four-phased approach for establishing the ISDF. It offers insights into how Indonesia can create an outcome-oriented skills financing model that empowers...

Productivity ecosystems for decent work

International experiences of modernizing the organization and operation of employment services: Implications for Viet Nam

This report draws on international experiences in modernizing employment services to identify implications for Viet Nam, contributing to the ILO’s Decent Work Country Programme 2022–26 and supporting evidence-informed decision-making.

Key research findings

Assessment of the drivers and constraints for occupational safety and health improvement and social protection of workers in the castor...

This publication summarizes the findings of the ILO’s 2024 assessment conducted under the project “Improving Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) and Access to Social Protection for Workers in the Agri-business Sectors.” It examines the...

Pathways to Market Inclusion for Urban Refugees and Host Communities

A Market System Analysis of the Beauty and Personal Care, Creative and Construction Sectors in Nairobi and Mombasa, Kenya

Just Transition Policy Brief

What policy mix works for MSMEs

This brief reviews MSME policies from 20 countries to assess how well they incorporate climate change and just transition principles.

ILO Brief

Integrating Gender Equality into Agri-SME Competitiveness: Advancing Gender-Transformative Practices in Lebanon’s Agri-Food Sector

This brief showcases how the ILO BOUZOUR project worked with the QOOT Agri-Food Cluster to strengthen competitiveness and gender inclusion in Lebanon’s agri-food SMEs. Through a combination of gender-sensitive training, participatory assessments,...

Road map to a green cocoa value chain in Timor-Leste: Business and skills development along with environmental sustainability, amid...

Conducted in mid-2025 through primary and secondary research, the study was undertaken as part of the ILO’s Preparing Timor-Leste’s Workers and Policymakers for a Just Transition and the Formal Economy Project and is intended to facilitate...

ILO Brief

Enhancing Refugee and Host Community Livelihoods in Koshi Province, Nepal

A systemic strategy for the agriculture sector

ILO Brief

Decent work grows green forests

A roadmap for a just transition in the Amazon nut value chain through productive jobs and sustainability

Countering illegal footwear and leather imports in South Africa

Mapping harms to industry, jobs and investment

Measuring change: Productivity ecosystems and decent work in practice

Survey results from 2022-24: Productivity, jobs, working conditions and policy in three pilot countries

ILO Brief

Embracing innovation and inclusion: Strengthening Kenya’s beauty sector for host communities and urban refugees

As refugee populations are dispersed within cities and often reluctant to come forward out of fear of legal repercussions, data on their profiles and opportunities is relatively scarce. To address this challenge, the ILO carried out a market systems...

From root causes to real change: Using a systems approach to foster decent work deep in supply chains

Improving micro, small and medium enterprises’ (MSMEs) access to supply chains and their benefits is critical for fostering economic development and decent work. A systems approach can help identify key barriers that hinder MSME performance and...

ILO Brief

Constructing pathways: Enhancing employment and inclusion of host communities and urban refugees in Kenya’s construction sector

The report’s findings, outlined in this brief, shed light on the profiles of urban refugees, the sectors where they work or have potential to find decent livelihood opportunities, the key constraints currently limiting their inclusion, and the...

Mid-term report of the SEDWAY and BG4YE projects

Empowering women and youth: Advancing opportunities through African Development Bank-supported initiatives

ILO and African Development Bank (AfDB) projects (2022-2026) spread in six districts, are building sustainable enterprises, fostering value addition, and creating decent jobs, strengthening entrepreneurship ecosystems and driving economic growth....

Supporting women entrepreneurs through formalization

An overview of the ILO Women’s Entrepreneurship Development Programme’s priority area on formalization in line with its 2025–2030 strategic plan.