The Digitalisation of Social Protection in Africa: The Perspective of Marginalised Workers

Abstract

The right to decent work including social protection is guaranteed to all citizens in multiple international human rights and labour rights conventions, as well as in African Union resolutions. However, many marginalised workers, including informal and rural workers, are excluded from social protection provisions. The digitalisation of social protection promised to increase the convenience and efficiency of accessing social protection entitlements (and it does for many), but millions of informal workers are being further excluded by digitalisation. This is the first study of digital social protection from the perspective of informal marginalised workers in Africa. Six studies were carried out with and by domestic workers, disabled workers, migrant workers, and home-based workers in Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia. This IDS Research Report synthesises their findings and recommendations to establish a clear agenda for change.