Fostering gender diversity and inclusiveness in street vendor associations in India

This project, led by the International Center for Research on Women (ICRW), focuses on the effects of the socioeconomic crisis created by the Covid-19 pandemic on informal women workers in India, particularly street vendors in the context of shrinking state support and gaps in access to social security. The study emphasises the importance of understanding the specific opportunities and challenges faced by those engaged in informal work, especially women, so that policies are informed by and respond to their specific needs. It also provides valuable insights into how prevalent gender norms interact with gaps in state support to disproportionately impact the conditions of informal women workers when compared to men. ICRW successfully engaged with grassroots organisations to advise them on how their programmes can be more inclusive and responsive to the differentiated needs of women street vendors.

This project focuses on urban informal economic activities in India, Kenya, and Uganda. Researchers explored the resilience of and challenges faced by women and their broader social ‘ecosystem’. The aim is to inform policies and strategies that ensure vulnerable populations, such as women workers in urban informal economies affected by Covid-19, can recover and rebuild their lives and livelihoods.

This Stories of Change was written by Aditi Vyas, Assistant Director for Gender, Youth and Development at ICRW, Priyanka Banerjee, Consultant at ICRW, Pranita Achyut, Director of Research and Programs at ICRW, and Emilie Wilson, Communications and Impact Officer in the Covid-19 Responses for Equity (CORE) Knowledge Translation Team at the Institute of Development Studies (IDS).

It was produced as part of the CORE KT Programme, which supports the translation of knowledge emerging from the CORE initiative. Supported by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), CORE brings together 20 projects to understand the socioeconomic impacts of the pandemic, improve existing responses, and generate better policy options for recovery.

The views expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of IDRC or its Board of Governors, or IDS.