Namibia Takes Historic Step to Institutionalize the Informal Economy
The Government of the Republic of Namibia officially launched the National Technical Committee on Institutionalizing the Informal Economy on 21 August 2026 at the Namibia Institute of Public Management (NIPAM) in Windhoek. This is a formal recognition that the informal economy is not a peripheral anomaly but a central pillar of the nation’s economic and […]
From vulnerability to resilience: street vendors in Malawi in the age of climate change
As climate change intensifies, street vendors in Malawi face unprecedented challenges. Heat stress, flooded markets, and unpredictable income threaten their very existence.
Informal Economy Market Vendors: A Lifeline for Many Malawian
Surviving in the informal economy: the journey of Selemani, one of Lwanda Market small-scale market vendors. Selemani’s journey among market vendors According to recent research, a significant portion of Malawi’s population relies on the informal economy for their livelihood. To gain insight into this phenomenon, Robert Selemani, one of the small-scale market vendors at Luwanda […]
Earning a living from selling sweets – A perspective from Malawi
Being a street vendor is an act which is prohibited in many parts of the world. Authorities criminalize this work, but many people find it important. Not just for the street vendors themselves, but the people of the community and sometimes even the government.
The labour of care, resistance and street vending: how a couple of worker leaders balanced it all
Street vendors might not be the first thing that comes to your mind when you think about care work, which is broadly defined as any form of work related to caring for others, either directly (e.g. feeding a baby) or indirectly (e.g. cleaning). But as workers who are unrecognized by most governments and without adequate […]
Profile of a Seamstress, Vendor and Leader: Ms. Frances Bamidele Onokpe.
This article was written by Mrs. Omolola Sholaja, from FIWON, Nigeria Ms. Bamidele Frances Onokpe, was born September 18, 1962 at Ikire, Southwest, Nigeria. After basic education, she trained as a certified Caterer at Dof Catering Institute in 1984 where she obtained her certification in Food Hygiene & Handling of food. She also went for […]
International Women’s Day 2023 – Maya Gurung (NEST)
For International Women’s Day, we are highlighting our women leaders and what we can learn from them we had a chat with Maya Gurung, from NEST, Nepal.
International Women’s Day 2023 – Anastasie Chodaton, SYBAMAVAB (Benin)
For March 8th, 2023, International Women’s Day we interviewed our International Council Member from Benin, Anastasie Chodaton. Anastasie is currently the Secretary General of SYNAMAVAB, (acronym of Syndicat National des Vendeurs, Vendeuses et Assimilés des Marchés du Bénin) and member of the International Council of StreetNet. She is a well recognised woman leader in her […]
International Women’s Day in Malawi
On 8th March every year, the world celebrates the International Women’s Day (IWD) in which they commemorate the life of every single woman around the world. During this day, women around the world gather in different places to celebrate the victory of their existence. In an interview, some women in Malawi expressed their views on […]
Inspiring workers: Iryna Jaskevich
Iryna Jaskevich is the fearless chairwoman and leader of VMESTE (a word that can be translated as “together”), a trade union from Belarus representing self-employed market and street vendors. As for the last congress of StreetNet, she has been elected member of the International Council. Iryna lives and fights in Belarus, a country whose political […]
