Contributory social protection schemes for informal workers

This research work package will focus specifically on the financing mechanisms within contributory social protection schemes that are designed for enrolling informal workers. In-depth analysis of important parameters that affect the effectiveness of these financing mechanisms is a blind spot in the social protection literature. But they are crucial elements for ensuring effective resource mobilization in order to contribute to the financial sustainability of expanded social protection coverage of informal workers.

The main point of interest are different financing mechanisms used in social protection schemes, and their effectiveness. The number of regularly contributing members from the informal sector, the established resource base and the financial sustainability of the mechanism are considered as important indicators for this effectiveness. The research will involve a literature review of existing evidence on the effectiveness of various financing mechanisms aimed at informal workers as well as in-depth field based case studies in two partner countries of the Belgian Development cooperation.

• Involved research institutes: HIVA
• Involved researchers: Huib Huyse, Jan Van Ongevalle,  Bénédicte Fonteneau and Sarah Vaes