Topic: Circular Economy, Informal Sector
Type: Publication, Report
Country: Multi-Country
Language: EN
Year: 2024
This white paper examines the intersection of the circular and informal economies, drawing on insights from three thematic learning circles involving participants from over 20 countries. Developed in partnership with Ashoka, IKEA Social Entrepreneurship, UNDP Accelerator Labs, and Circle Economy, these sessions engaged over 100 stakeholders, including UNDP representatives, IKEA employees, and social entrepreneurs from Ashoka’s network.
The learning circles focused on:
- Perceptions and Drivers: Exploring the perceptions and motivations of informality and circularity.
- System Intersections: Identifying conditions and actors to link informal and circular systems.
- Enabling Environments: Discussing frameworks to support informal workers and small entrepreneurs in circular economies.
The paper, intended to deepen understanding of the “circularity-informality nexus,” highlights how informal economies contribute to circular practices and underscores the importance of partnerships in addressing structural and economic dynamics globally.