Address
The Institute for Social Accountability (TISA)
Westlands Avenue, Wendy Court, Hse no. 1
David Osieli Rd, Westlands

Work Hours
Monday - Friday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

PROMOTING SOCIAL ECONOMIC INCLUSION

Involving Everyone

Marginalized groups face challenges that restrain them from fully participating in political, economic, and social life, through legal systems, land and labour markets, alongside stigmatizing beliefs, perceptions, or attitudes. 

These challenges are often based on gender, age, location, occupation, disability, among other factors. The resulting exclusion robs individuals of dignity, security, and the opportunity to lead a better life. Unless the structural causes of exclusion and discrimination are addressed, it becomes an obstacle to sustainable and inclusive growth. 

The Socio-economic inclusion program works with the marginalised groups to help develop a sense of autonomy, self-confidence, and acting individually and collectively to change social relationships, institutions and discourses that exclude them and keep them in poverty.  Throughout the implementation period, the Socio-economic Inclusion program has witnessed restored dignity of marginalised groups (i.e the youth and women, particularly those plying their trade within the informal trade sector and those engaging within the public procurement space) and gave them equal rights to hold the government to account. More so, through our continuous engagement we have seen marginalised groups get a sense of identity, belonging and gain the ability to imagine and aspire for a better futurea goal embodied in the human rights-based approach as well as Sustainable Development Goals.

At present, the Socio-Economic Inclusion program houses two projects, namely, the COVID-19 Monitoring project vis a vis Informal trade and Women in Business.

The COVID-19 Monitoring project seeks to create an enabling environment for inclusion of youth and women especially informal trader in post-COVID-19 economic recovery in target counties. To this effect, we have successfully convened a multi-stakeholder forum on strengthening social accountability structures in social protection programs, with specific focus on Kenyan Government’s COVID-19 Cash Transfers and MSMEs Credit Guarantee Scheme and generated key resolutions for adoption

The Informal Women in Business program seeks to work with women in micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to build their capacity to advocate for issues facing them in trade and public procurement, with the aim of increasing their inclusion and effective participation in governance and decision-making processes. To this end we are currently undertaking a comprehensive study to better understand the barriers facing women-led business in public procurement in Kenya and what solutions can be in place to enhance their participation in the sector. 

Join the movement

The present construction of engagement in urban informal trade and public procurement perpetuates unequal access to power, promotes patronage and disempowers informal traders and women-led businesses. There is need to build effective collaboration between traders and with strategic partners to help raise awareness, enhance skills and knowledge of traders and their representatives as a basis for strengthening their capacity to advocate and activate for their rights.