DVA4805
Assignment 3
DUE 23 July 2025
, Title: Challenges Faced by Women in the Informal Sector: Voices from the Ground and
Policy Recommendations
Student Name: [Insert Name]
Institution: [Insert Institution]
Date: [Insert Date]
1. Introduction
In many developing nations, especially within sub-Saharan Africa, the informal economy
plays a crucial role in supporting both livelihoods and national economies. This sector
consists of economic activities that are not formally registered or regulated by the state,
meaning they often operate outside labor laws, taxation frameworks, and social
protections. A significant proportion of the workforce in this sector is made up of women
who are involved in various forms of work such as street vending, domestic chores,
small-scale agriculture, hairstyling, and craft-making (Chen, 2012).
Although these women contribute immensely to their communities and households, they
often encounter deep-rooted obstacles that hinder their financial growth and social
inclusion. These include unstable earnings, limited legal rights, workplace exploitation,
and restricted access to business resources like capital and markets. This report
presents evidence from interviews conducted with five women working informally in
Kenya, with the aim of identifying their common struggles and offering targeted policy
recommendations based on their real-life experiences.
2. Methodology
This research adopted a qualitative approach by conducting semi-structured interviews
with five women engaged in informal work across different regions of Kenya. The
participants came from diverse occupational backgrounds:
1. Mary, who sells vegetables on the streets of Kisumu;
2. Amina, employed as a domestic worker in Nairobi;
Assignment 3
DUE 23 July 2025
, Title: Challenges Faced by Women in the Informal Sector: Voices from the Ground and
Policy Recommendations
Student Name: [Insert Name]
Institution: [Insert Institution]
Date: [Insert Date]
1. Introduction
In many developing nations, especially within sub-Saharan Africa, the informal economy
plays a crucial role in supporting both livelihoods and national economies. This sector
consists of economic activities that are not formally registered or regulated by the state,
meaning they often operate outside labor laws, taxation frameworks, and social
protections. A significant proportion of the workforce in this sector is made up of women
who are involved in various forms of work such as street vending, domestic chores,
small-scale agriculture, hairstyling, and craft-making (Chen, 2012).
Although these women contribute immensely to their communities and households, they
often encounter deep-rooted obstacles that hinder their financial growth and social
inclusion. These include unstable earnings, limited legal rights, workplace exploitation,
and restricted access to business resources like capital and markets. This report
presents evidence from interviews conducted with five women working informally in
Kenya, with the aim of identifying their common struggles and offering targeted policy
recommendations based on their real-life experiences.
2. Methodology
This research adopted a qualitative approach by conducting semi-structured interviews
with five women engaged in informal work across different regions of Kenya. The
participants came from diverse occupational backgrounds:
1. Mary, who sells vegetables on the streets of Kisumu;
2. Amina, employed as a domestic worker in Nairobi;
