Report

IDS Research Report 90

The Digitalisation of Social Protection in Africa: The Perspective of Marginalised Workers

Published on 2 September 2024

This is the first study of digital social protection from the perspective of informal marginalised workers in Africa.

The right to decent work including social protection is guaranteed to all citizens in multiple international human rights and labour rights conventions, as well as in African Union resolutions. However, many marginalised workers, including informal and rural workers, are excluded from social protection provisions. The digitalisation of social protection promised to increase the convenience and efficiency of accessing social protection entitlements (and it does for many), but millions of informal workers are being further excluded by digitalisation. Six studies were carried out with and by domestic workers, disabled workers, migrant workers, and home-based workers in Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia. This IDS Research Report synthesises their findings and recommendations to establish a clear agenda for change.

Cite this publication

Faith, B.; Roberts, T. and Alfers, L. (eds) (2024) The Digitalisation of Social Protection in Africa: The Perspective of Marginalised Workers, IDS Research Report 90, Brighton: Institute of Development Studies, https://www.doi.org/10.19088/IDS.2024.022

Authors

Becky Faith

Research Fellow, Institute of Development Studies

Tony Roberts

Digital Cluster Research Fellow, Institute of Development Studies

Director, Social Protection Programme, Women in Informal Employment: Globalizing and Organizing (WIEGO)

Specialist in Disability Inclusion Development, Governance, and Public Policy

Head, National Secretariat/Director of Programmes, Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities, Nigeria

Executive Director, Africa Labour Research and Education Institute and Chief Economist, African Regional Organisation of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC-Africa)

Labour Migration Governance Expert and Workers’ Education Specialist in Charge of Education and Training, Trades Union Congress Ghana

Regional Coordinator, HomeNet Africa

Trustee, Domestic Workers Union of Zambia

President, Domestic Workers Union of Zambia

Public Policy Analyst and International Development Specialist, ITUC-Africa

Senior Programme Manager, Africa Platform for Social Protection

Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, and Learning Officer, Paradigm Initiative

Graduate Intern, Africa Platform for Social Protection – Mentorship Project

Graduate Intern, Africa Platform for Social Protection – Mentorship Project

Chief Operating Officer, Paradigm Initiative

Deputy Finance and Organising, Domestic Workers Union of Zambia

General Secretary, Domestic Workers Union of Zambia

Graduate Intern, Africa Platform for Social Protection – Mentorship Project

Editors

Becky Faith

Research Fellow, Institute of Development Studies

Tony Roberts

Digital Cluster Research Fellow, Institute of Development Studies

Director, Social Protection Programme, Women in Informal Employment: Globalizing and Organizing (WIEGO)

Publication details

published by
Institute of Development Studies
doi
10.19088/IDS.2024.022
isbn
978-1-80470-223-9
issn
0141-1314
language
English

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