Inclusive Poverty Reduction: In Search of a Policy Framework to Support Individuals Operating in the Informal Economy in Lagos, Nigeria

What perspectives exist amongst stakeholders in Lagos’s informal economy on the criminalisation of visible economic activities and the control of urban spaces, and how can these perspectives be incorporated into a framework promoting dialogue on policies targeting poverty reduction and economic and social inclusion? This project seeks answers to these questions. Lagos’s urban space has become highly contested, between policymakers as they criminalise visible informal activities in pursuit of modernisation, and citizens seeking survival and day-to-day opportunities to buy and sell. To address these challenges, the research team combines institutional and modernisation theories, unifying interdisciplinary qualitative and quantitative methods to analyse interview and questionnaire data. Findings will be disseminated to academic and stakeholder audiences. Crucial will be stakeholder workshops, designed not just for dissemination but to facilitate dialogue on substantive pro-poor policy change. These findings will have relevance for urban areas across the Global South.

Dr Eghosa Igudia, De Montfort University; Professor Rob Ackrill, Nottingham Trent University; Dr Olasunmbo Olusanya, University of Lagos, Nigeria; Dr Basirat Oyalowo, University of Lagos, Nigeria