Informal workers represent 50 to 80 percent of urban employment in the global south – from street vendors and waste pickers, to workers manufacturing goods at home – and generate up to half of GDP outside of agriculture. Yet most cities have unfairly stigmatized these workers, rendering them invisible.

This paper reveals how some cities are creating policies, legislation and practices that support informal workers while promoting economic productivity and environmental sustainability. This is an important step towards building cities for all. Cities cannot become more equal or more economically productive if they exclude the vast majority of their workforce, especially the working poor.