Research project Towards an Inclusive Circular Economy: the contributions of informal workers in urban Africa
The purpose of this study is to advance scientific understanding of the interaction between emerging circular economy (CE) policies and informal recycling work in African cities.
The interconnectedness of policies, material flows, and social practices, with attention to gender, class, and other social differentiations will be examined through a comparative analysis across Lagos, Accra, and Maputo, focusing on key sectors such as plastics, textiles, and electronics.
Research Questions: How are local policies in specific cities (Lagos, Accra, Maputo) changing in relation to global discourses of CE promotion? Through what pre-existing improvised practices do informal workers keep waste or discarded products in circulation? How does the encounter between the new policies and pre-existing informal practices play out in the different cities and sectors? How do informal waste workers perceive, experience and respond to new CE policies?
The study will use qualitative methods including interviews with policymakers to gain insights into policy development, implementation processes, coordination between actors, and perceived challenges; and informal workers to obtain information on daily work practices, material flows, working conditions, gendered and social norms, experiences of CE-related regulations, and perceived benefits or risks from new policies. Secondary sources including government reports and media will provide additional data on the role of the government and insights into hotly contested local issues.