Technology, informal workers and cities: insights from Ahmedabad (India), Durban (South Africa) and Lima (Peru)

Informal workers in three global cities—Ahmedabad (India), Durban (South Africa), and Lima (Peru)—leverage diverse, often basic technologies to enhance their livelihoods, yet adoption is constrained by economic, regulatory, and urban infrastructure challenges. A 2015 study by the WIEGO network and local partners reveals that while these workers adapt tools ingeniously—ranging from manual devices to internet platforms—their use is limited by low incomes, theft risks, and city-specific systems governing energy, transport, and waste. The findings highlight a critical gap: policy frameworks and urban technological systems must better accommodate the needs of informal economies to foster inclusive growth.

Chen, M. A. (2016). Technology, informal workers and cities: insights from Ahmedabad (India), Durban (South Africa) and Lima (Peru). Environment and Urbanization, 28(2), 405–422. https://doi.org/10.1177/0956247816655986