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This report by Genesis Analytics, commissioned by FSD Africa, Shell Foundation, and Shortlist, forecasts green employment opportunities across Africa with a focus on Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa. It argues that Africa's green transition is primarily service-led and decentralized, meaning the majority of jobs will be indirect roles in distribution, maintenance, and operations rather than in construction or manufacturing. The study highlights a significant gap between the potential for job creation and the current availability of skilled workers, particularly in advanced technical areas. It emphasizes that while green value chains are accessible to women, youth, and low-income workers, these groups are often concentrated in low-value, informal roles, necessitating systemic reforms in workplace design, social protection, and training to ensure meaningful inclusion.

This policy brief by the Stockholm Environment Institute examines the relationship between socio-economic status and exposure to PM2.5 air pollution in Bangkok. Based on a study of five districts and 400 participants, it finds that informal workers and low-income residents face higher exposure and more health symptoms, while public perception of air quality often contradicts government monitoring data.

This policy brief by the Stockholm Environment Institute describes research on PM2.5 exposure among grill workers in Vientiane, Lao PDR. It highlights that while street grill emissions have a low impact on overall city air pollution, individual workers face high localized exposure, with women being disproportionately affected due to gender roles and lack of social protections in the informal food economy.

This report by WWF South Africa examines the role of the informal waste sector in African cities, advocating for an "inclusive circular economy" that integrates reclaimers into formal waste management systems. It analyzes the operational status, socio-economic challenges, and policy landscapes of reclaimers in Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, and Uganda, arguing that their inclusion is essential for sustainable urban waste management and poverty alleviation.

This discussion brief examines the intersections of waste management, gender equality, social equity, and poverty in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). It highlights systemic gaps in waste collection, particularly in rural areas and Roma communities, and discusses how the waste sector is characterized by gender imbalances and a reliance on informal labor by marginalized groups.

This briefing note examines the role of the informal waste sector in South Africa's recycling economy and the potential impacts of mandatory Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). It highlights the significant economic value provided by informal waste pickers in diverting materials from landfills and proposes four integration scenarios to protect livelihoods while increasing recycling rates.

This 1994 report by the Stockholm Environment Institute examines energy use within the urban informal sector of Tanzania, specifically in Dar es Salaam, Mbeya, and Shinyanga. It analyzes the relationship between capital intensity, energy efficiency, and employment, noting that the sector serves as a critical economic survival mechanism, particularly for women. The study finds a dichotomy between subsistence-oriented activities using traditional fuels and small-scale businesses using modern energy, concluding that the informal sector provides significant employment without substantially increasing total urban energy consumption due to capital limitations.

This policy brief by the Green Economy Coalition argues that small and medium enterprises (SMEs), including informal businesses, are essential for a fair and inclusive green economic transition. It highlights the significant economic contribution of SMEs in emerging economies and outlines eleven specific areas where policy support is lacking, ranging from financing gaps and legal recognition to the need for better visibility in national policy development.