(Why) Have Pro‐poor Policies Failed Africa's Working Poor?

Abstract

Globalisation, liberalisation and urbanisation have contributed to a rapid growth of urban informal economies in sub-Saharan Africa. Commerce has become a dominant feature of national economies, and street vending has become a prime source of employment for poor urban dwellers, yet most work illegally, and evictions and harassment are common. The paper examines the process and impacts of three pro-poor reform agendas in Tanzania, each representing a different ideology of reform, and draws on survey results from 2007 and 2011 to assess their potential to legitimate the activities of street vendors and to ameliorate their relations with the state.

Technology for street traders in Tanzania: A design science research approach

“…This indicates the humble attitude of the study participants, given the income inequalities between informal and formal workers. Also, besides supporting themselves and dependents, a number of studies show that street traders from urban areas send part of their earnings to support relatives and families in poor rural or suburban areas (Lyons et al 2012;Lyons et al 2014;Reid et al 2010). Also, informal workers operate with no job security, healthcare or social security packages or plans that are typical in the formal economy.…”

A refugee in my own country: Evictions or property rights in the urban informal economy?

“…I had to lose the hope … my own country, my country where our ancestors and forefathers loved each other – why? (Female trader, Arusha, selling cooked food, 2007) (Lyons et al, 2012)Several occasions, I have been arrested by city militia who take my goods and even money. This has made me survive in this city like a refugee in my country.…”

Towards sustainable livelihood in the Tanzanian informal economy: Facilitating inclusion, organization, and rights for street vendors

“…As a subsistence strategy, street vending continues to be central to poverty alleviation today, particularly among the youth. Research further documents the vital importance of street vending not only for traders and their families but also to wider communities, as well as to the functioning of urban infrastructure and the national economy (see Brown 2015;Brown et al 2015;Liviga and Mekacha 1998;Msoka 2007, 2010;Lyons et al 2012Lyons et al , 2014Mbilinyi and Omari 1996;Mramba 2015aMramba , 2015bTripp 1989Tripp , 1997.…”

“…Since the early 2000s, the consecutive governments under presidents Benjamin Mkapa and Jakaya Kikwete devised various strategies to cope with the growing numbers of informally operating street vendors and to integrate them into the formal economy. The research literature has documented the shortcomings of formalization policies, which were implemented inconsistently and to a large extent were ill suited to street vendors (Lyons and Msoka 2010;Lyons et al 2012Lyons et al , 2014. The policies were further overshadowed by the continuing criminalization of street vendors.…”

“…Similarly to other designated market areas (Lyons and Msoka 2010;Lyons et al 2012), the envisioned shopping experience is also unfitting for the typical customers of machingas. Hawkers explained that their customers tend to have little cash to spend and prefer buying single, cheap items on the spot rather than purposely visiting a market or shop.…”