Research findings
Explore the current state of decent work in different sectors in various African countries, based on several recent studies.
Labour inspection
Enhancing social protection and decent work is crucial for fostering socioeconomic development. One effective way to achieve this is by leveraging labour inspection and administration. Labour inspection plays a vital role in ensuring fair and safe working conditions for employees, protecting their rights and well-being. It also supports employers by helping them maintain productive and sustainable businesses, ensuring compliance with labour laws, and fostering a healthy working environment. By strengthening labour inspection, both workers and employers benefit, contributing to a more equitable and prosperous economy. Find more information on strengthening the labour inspection here.
The research aims to examine the status of labour inspections in the various target sectors in all three countries, assessing the effectiveness and value addition of current labour inspection methods. Additionally, the study seeks to identify best practices that can improve labour inspection processes, fostering a win-win scenario for all stakeholders involved. By evaluating the current landscape and proposing enhancements, the research will contribute to more efficient and impactful labour inspection systems in these key sectors.
Green economy
The green economy is crucial for Africa’s sustainable development, offering a pathway to both environmental protection and economic growth. It provides opportunities for job creation, poverty reduction, and improved resilience to environmental shocks, while promoting the preservation of natural ecosystems. Embracing a green economy with a focus on decent work can drive innovation and ensure that Africa’s growth is both inclusive and environmentally sustainable, benefiting future generations.
Regional collaborative action research initiative on social protection and decent work
The Thematic Portfolio Social Protection (TPSP) in Central Africa 2022-2026, initiated by Enabel in Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, comprises five strategic pillars that aim to promote social protection (SP) and decent work (DW) in the Great Lakes Region.
The Regional Collaborative Action Research Initiative (RCARI) is the research component of the thematic portfolio. RCARI is geared towards supporting the TPSP interventions and related policy environment by providing evidence-based support and facilitating regional research collaboration. RCARI is set to explore a range of topics that hold significant potential for enhancing social protection and decent work in the Great Lakes region.
RCARI focuses on developing a regional network for the exchange of best-fit practices and capability building in the Great Lakes Region. National and regional research institutions will collaborate in gathering evidence while also advancing the conceptual work around social protection and decent work to inform national and regional policies. HIVA-KU Leuven is a Belgian research institute that partners with Enabel and national institutes in this project.
Expected outcomes
The expected outcomes of RCARI are fivefold. Firstly, RCARI aims to contribute to the implementation and monitoring of the TPSP. Secondly, joint research reports and other outputs will be published and disseminated among a wider and international audience of academics and institutions. Thirdly, RCARI will inform and help shape policy-oriented activities concerned with SP and DW. Fourthly, the project aims to bolster the capacity of Enabel and the national research institutes to research and impact on decent work and social protection themes. Lastly, by extension of the direct RCARI collaboration between research institutes, we hope to strengthen existing and emerging networks of SP and DW researchers in the region and beyond.
Learning through action
RCARI follows an action research methodology. This methodology facilitates and takes as point-of-departure learning through experimentation and practice (Reason & Bradbury, 2001; Van Ongevalle, 2014). Action research is directed at developing a practice that is embedded and tailored to the context and actors involved. This practice is usually the result of an iterative research cycle whereby suggestions for improvement of the original situation are tested and tweaked. Action research shifts from a theory-driven way of research to a practice-driven way of research, thereby generating questions and understandings that have strong practical relevance for the field. This type of research has underpinned research aimed at bringing about societal change in the region, including a study on restorative justice (Kiyala, 2019).
The action research conducted within RCARI is situated at the actor level, where stakeholders engage in mutual collaboration to investigate and refine future strategies in response to various critical challenges and interests of the TPSP. HIVA-KU Leuven can draw on its previous experience in conducting action research among and within institutional stakeholders (Van Ongevalle, 2014). By engaging key stakeholders, including policymakers, practitioners, and civil society organizations in the research process, the initiative seeks to ensure that research findings are relevant, useful, and applicable in practice.
RCARI adopts a sequenced approach whereby the studies are conducted consecutively, to build upon and complement previous ones. This design aims to develop a coherent and comprehensive body of insight and knowledge, while also bolstering institutional processes and capacities.