Improving labour market outcomes for the poor in Sub-Saharan Africa : Ghana, Madagascar, South Africa and Tanzania

Abstract

This project aimed to understand the labour market outcomes in sub-Saharan Africa and how public policy could improve these outcomes brought about by the economic transformation of the last decade, in particular, the labour market outcomes for the poorest segment of the population. It had four specific objectives: 12 research papers; capacity strengthening within the four African countries; dialogue between researchers and policy makers; and creation of a network of researchers in Africa working on similar issues. All four of these objectives were reached. The core research activity for this project was the collection, collation and analysis of data. This data was used to investigate various aspects of the labour markets in the four countries. The research outcomes was communicated to policy makers through a number of workshops and other mechanisms. The African researchers presented their research at a number of academic conferences. Capacity was further strengthened through the collaboration between international experts and local researchers and through the training of young researchers. Despite a number of bureaucratic obstacles that had to be overcome, the researchers involved with project consider it a success.