Consultation Meeting of Informal traders in Mankayane (Swaziland)

As part of the SADC Informal Traders Campaign, aimed at putting an end to sexual and economic violence on informal traders, the Coalition of informal economy Association of Swaziland is hosting a Consultation Meeting with Informal traders in Mankayane (Sub-region of Mbabane, Swaziland). The meeting will discuss issues and challenges affecting informal traders in Swaziland and explore strategies on how to deal with it. About 1000 traders are expected to attend, coming from areas such as Mbabane, Nhlangano, Mankayane, and Manzini. Also participating in this campaign is informal traders from other SADC countries such as South Africa, Lesotho, Zimbabwe and Zambia.

The Ecumenical Service for Socio Economic Transformation (ESSET) is holding a two

day Stakeholder Dialogue on Policy and Legislation of Informal Trade. The dialogue is being

held in Kliptown Hall (Soweto) on 11- 12 October 2011.

Background to the dialogues

ESSET started working with informal traders around the city of Johannesburg in 2006. One of

the ESSET projects under its accompaniment programme is informal trading. In 2006,

we conducted a survey on informal trade, with the aim to have a better perspective of the sector. In 2011, ESSET supported by the Foundation for Human Rights embarked on the project

titled: Strengthening the Voice of Women informal traders in Policy processes.

In carrying out this project, ESSET embarked on a number of activities. One of these is a

research that was aimed at providing information on relevant legislation and policies

and conducted three days workshops in Johannes burg and Rustenburg on advancing the

socio economic rights of women traders. The workshops together with the research resulted

 in an understanding by women traders of their rights; however the issues on policy still

needs further engagement. Thus the upcoming stakeholder dialogue will be used as a

platform for both women and men informal traders and policy makers, law enforces to

engage, to ensure proper representation of women informal traders in policy processes

and the realisation of their rights to participate in the informal economy.

The objectives of the dialogue are :  

·         To engage on the research findings on legislation and policy that has a bearing on

       rights of women traders to trade and its implications to participatory democracy.

·         To deliberate on shared experiences and demands formulated while exploring possible avenues for participation.

·         To explore avenues for participation by women traders and to examine hindrances to participation of women traders in policy processes.

Stakeholder Dialogue schedule details:

Date : 11- 12 October 2011

Venue: Jabulani, Soweto

Time: 10am – 3pm

ESSET host Stakeholder Dialogue on Policy and Legislation of Informal Trade

The Ecumenical Service for Socio Economic Transformation (ESSET) will be holding a two day Stakeholder Dialogue on Policy and Legislation of Informal Trade. The dialogue will be held in Kliptown Hall (Soweto) on 11- 12 October 2011.

Background to the dialogues
ESSET started working with informal traders around the city of Johannesburg in 2006. One of the ESSET projects under its accompaniment programme is informal trading. In 2006, we conducted a survey on informal trade, with the aim to have a better perspective of the sector. In 2011, ESSET supported by the Foundation for Human Rights embarked on the project titled: Strengthening the Voice of Women informal traders in Policy processes.

In carrying out this project, ESSET embarked on a number of activities. One of these is a research that was aimed at providing information on relevant legislation and policies and conducted three days workshops in Johannesburg and Rustenburg on advancing the socio economic rights of women traders. The workshops together with the research resulted in an understanding by women traders of their rights; however the issues on policy still needs further engagement. Thus the upcoming stakeholder dialogue will be used as a platform for both women and men informal traders and policy makers, law enforces to engage, to ensure proper representation of informal traders in policy processes and the realisation of their rights to participate.

The objectives of the dialogue are :
• To engage on the research findings on legislation and policy that has a
bearing on rights of women traders to trade and its implications to
participatory democracy.
• To deliberate on shared experiences and demands formulated while
exploring possible avenues for participation.
• To explore avenues for participation by women traders and to examine
hindrances to participation of women traders in policy processes.

Stakeholder Dialogue schedule details:

Date : 11- 12 October 2011
Venue: Jabulani, Soweto
Time : 10am – 3pm