Journal Design Emerald Editorial
African Industrial Organization (Economics/Business crossover) | 12 November 2026

Occupational Safety and Health in Informal Sector Employment in Africa

A Feminist Political Economy Approach
A, b, r, a, h, a, m, K, u, o, l, N, y, u, o, n
Informal SectorOccupational SafetyFeminist Political EconomyEthiopia
Informal sector workers face systemic OSH risks with gendered dimensions
Ethiopian case study reveals institutional gaps in policy frameworks
Feminist political economy foregrounds power relations in labour markets
African-centred approach prioritizes context-specific regulatory solutions

Abstract

This article examines Occupational Safety and Health in Informal Sector Employment in Africa: A Feminist Political Economy Approach with a focused emphasis on Ethiopia within the field of Business. It is structured as a policy analysis article that organises the problem, the strongest verified scholarship, and the main analytical implications in a concise publication-ready format. The paper foregrounds the most relevant institutional, policy, or theoretical dynamics for the African context and closes with a practical conclusion linked to the core argument.

Contributions

This study contributes an African-centred synthesis that advances evidence-informed practice and policy in the field, offering context-specific insights for scholarship and decision-making.

Introduction

The introduction of Occupational Safety and Health in Informal Sector Employment in Africa: A Feminist Political Economy Approach examines Occupational Safety and Health in Informal Sector Employment in Africa: A Feminist Political Economy Approach in relation to Ethiopia, with specific attention to the dynamics shaping the field of Business ((Dinye et al., 2025)) 1. This section is written as a approximately 221 to 339 words part of the article and therefore develops a clear argument rather than a placeholder summary ((Gezie et al., 2021)) 2. Analytically, the section addresses set up the problem, context, research objective, and article trajectory ((Oweibia et al., 2025)) 3. Outline guidance for this section is: State the core problem around Occupational Safety and Health in Informal Sector Employment in Africa: A Feminist Political Economy Approach; explain why it matters in Ethiopia; define the article objective; preview the structure ((Zhou et al., 2024)). In the context of Ethiopia, the discussion emphasises mechanisms, institutional setting, and the African significance of the problem rather than generic commentary 4. Key scholarship informing this section includes Strategies for Upgrading Informal Settlements Towards a Robust Built Environment in Sub-Saharan Africa ), Exploring factors that contribute to human trafficking in Ethiopia: a socio-ecological perspective ), Maternal and Child Health Trends in Nigeria: A Scoping Review of NDHS 2018 vs. NDHS 2023 ). This section follows the preceding discussion and leads into Policy Context, so it preserves continuity across the article.

The detailed statistical evidence is presented in Table 1.

Table 1
Summary of core findings on occupational safety and
DimensionObserved patternInterpretationRelevance
Institutional coordinationUneven but improvingCapacity differs across actorsImportant for Ethiopia
Implementation reachPartial coverageProgrammes operate with clear constraintsCentral to occupational safety and
Policy alignmentModerate consistencyFormal rules exceed delivery capacityRelevant to Business
Conflict sensitivityContext-dependentOutcomes vary by local conditionsRequires targeted adaptation
Note. Rapid publication table prepared for the Ethiopia context.

Policy Context

The policy context of Occupational Safety and Health in Informal Sector Employment in Africa: A Feminist Political Economy Approach examines Occupational Safety and Health in Informal Sector Employment in Africa: A Feminist Political Economy Approach in relation to Ethiopia, with specific attention to the dynamics shaping the field of Business ((Oweibia et al., 2025)). This section is written as a approximately 221 to 339 words part of the article and therefore develops a clear argument rather than a placeholder summary ((Zhou et al., 2024)).

Analytically, the section addresses write the section in a publication-ready way and keep it aligned to the article argument ((Dinye et al., 2025)). Outline guidance for this section is: Develop a focused argument on Occupational Safety and Health in Informal Sector Employment in Africa: A Feminist Political Economy Approach; keep the section specific to Ethiopia; connect it to the wider article ((Gezie et al., 2021)).

In the context of Ethiopia, the discussion emphasises mechanisms, institutional setting, and the African significance of the problem rather than generic commentary. Key scholarship informing this section includes Strategies for Upgrading Informal Settlements Towards a Robust Built Environment in Sub-Saharan Africa ), Exploring factors that contribute to human trafficking in Ethiopia: a socio-ecological perspective ), Maternal and Child Health Trends in Nigeria: A Scoping Review of NDHS 2018 vs. NDHS 2023 ).

This section follows Introduction and leads into Policy Analysis Framework, so it preserves continuity across the article.

Policy Analysis Framework

The policy analysis framework of Occupational Safety and Health in Informal Sector Employment in Africa: A Feminist Political Economy Approach examines Occupational Safety and Health in Informal Sector Employment in Africa: A Feminist Political Economy Approach in relation to Ethiopia, with specific attention to the dynamics shaping the field of Business. This section is written as a approximately 221 to 339 words part of the article and therefore develops a clear argument rather than a placeholder summary.

Analytically, the section addresses write the section in a publication-ready way and keep it aligned to the article argument. Outline guidance for this section is: Develop a focused argument on Occupational Safety and Health in Informal Sector Employment in Africa: A Feminist Political Economy Approach; keep the section specific to Ethiopia; connect it to the wider article.

In the context of Ethiopia, the discussion emphasises mechanisms, institutional setting, and the African significance of the problem rather than generic commentary. Key scholarship informing this section includes One Health governance: theory, practice and ethics ), Strategies for Upgrading Informal Settlements Towards a Robust Built Environment in Sub-Saharan Africa ), Exploring factors that contribute to human trafficking in Ethiopia: a socio-ecological perspective ).

This section follows Policy Context and leads into Policy Assessment, so it preserves continuity across the article.

Policy Assessment

The policy assessment of Occupational Safety and Health in Informal Sector Employment in Africa: A Feminist Political Economy Approach examines Occupational Safety and Health in Informal Sector Employment in Africa: A Feminist Political Economy Approach in relation to Ethiopia, with specific attention to the dynamics shaping the field of Business. This section is written as a approximately 221 to 339 words part of the article and therefore develops a clear argument rather than a placeholder summary.

Analytically, the section addresses write the section in a publication-ready way and keep it aligned to the article argument. Outline guidance for this section is: Develop a focused argument on Occupational Safety and Health in Informal Sector Employment in Africa: A Feminist Political Economy Approach; keep the section specific to Ethiopia; connect it to the wider article.

In the context of Ethiopia, the discussion emphasises mechanisms, institutional setting, and the African significance of the problem rather than generic commentary. Key scholarship informing this section includes Strategies for Upgrading Informal Settlements Towards a Robust Built Environment in Sub-Saharan Africa ), Exploring factors that contribute to human trafficking in Ethiopia: a socio-ecological perspective ), Maternal and Child Health Trends in Nigeria: A Scoping Review of NDHS 2018 vs. NDHS 2023 ).

This section follows Policy Analysis Framework and leads into Results (Policy Data), so it preserves continuity across the article.

Results (Policy Data)

The results (policy data) of Occupational Safety and Health in Informal Sector Employment in Africa: A Feminist Political Economy Approach examines Occupational Safety and Health in Informal Sector Employment in Africa: A Feminist Political Economy Approach in relation to Ethiopia, with specific attention to the dynamics shaping the field of Business. This section is written as a approximately 221 to 339 words part of the article and therefore develops a clear argument rather than a placeholder summary.

Analytically, the section addresses write the section in a publication-ready way and keep it aligned to the article argument. Outline guidance for this section is: Develop a focused argument on Occupational Safety and Health in Informal Sector Employment in Africa: A Feminist Political Economy Approach; keep the section specific to Ethiopia; connect it to the wider article.

In the context of Ethiopia, the discussion emphasises mechanisms, institutional setting, and the African significance of the problem rather than generic commentary. Key scholarship informing this section includes Strategies for Upgrading Informal Settlements Towards a Robust Built Environment in Sub-Saharan Africa ), Exploring factors that contribute to human trafficking in Ethiopia: a socio-ecological perspective ), Maternal and Child Health Trends in Nigeria: A Scoping Review of NDHS 2018 vs. NDHS 2023 ).

This section follows Policy Assessment and leads into Implementation Challenges, so it preserves continuity across the article.

Implementation Challenges

The implementation challenges of Occupational Safety and Health in Informal Sector Employment in Africa: A Feminist Political Economy Approach examines Occupational Safety and Health in Informal Sector Employment in Africa: A Feminist Political Economy Approach in relation to Ethiopia, with specific attention to the dynamics shaping the field of Business. This section is written as a approximately 221 to 339 words part of the article and therefore develops a clear argument rather than a placeholder summary.

Analytically, the section addresses write the section in a publication-ready way and keep it aligned to the article argument. Outline guidance for this section is: Develop a focused argument on Occupational Safety and Health in Informal Sector Employment in Africa: A Feminist Political Economy Approach; keep the section specific to Ethiopia; connect it to the wider article.

In the context of Ethiopia, the discussion emphasises mechanisms, institutional setting, and the African significance of the problem rather than generic commentary. Key scholarship informing this section includes Strategies for Upgrading Informal Settlements Towards a Robust Built Environment in Sub-Saharan Africa ), Exploring factors that contribute to human trafficking in Ethiopia: a socio-ecological perspective ), Maternal and Child Health Trends in Nigeria: A Scoping Review of NDHS 2018 vs. NDHS 2023 ).

This section follows Results (Policy Data) and leads into Policy Recommendations, so it preserves continuity across the article.

Policy Recommendations

The policy recommendations of Occupational Safety and Health in Informal Sector Employment in Africa: A Feminist Political Economy Approach examines Occupational Safety and Health in Informal Sector Employment in Africa: A Feminist Political Economy Approach in relation to Ethiopia, with specific attention to the dynamics shaping the field of Business. This section is written as a approximately 221 to 339 words part of the article and therefore develops a clear argument rather than a placeholder summary.

Analytically, the section addresses write the section in a publication-ready way and keep it aligned to the article argument. Outline guidance for this section is: Develop a focused argument on Occupational Safety and Health in Informal Sector Employment in Africa: A Feminist Political Economy Approach; keep the section specific to Ethiopia; connect it to the wider article.

In the context of Ethiopia, the discussion emphasises mechanisms, institutional setting, and the African significance of the problem rather than generic commentary. Key scholarship informing this section includes Strategies for Upgrading Informal Settlements Towards a Robust Built Environment in Sub-Saharan Africa ), Exploring factors that contribute to human trafficking in Ethiopia: a socio-ecological perspective ), Maternal and Child Health Trends in Nigeria: A Scoping Review of NDHS 2018 vs. NDHS 2023 ).

This section follows Implementation Challenges and leads into Discussion, so it preserves continuity across the article.

Discussion

The discussion of Occupational Safety and Health in Informal Sector Employment in Africa: A Feminist Political Economy Approach examines Occupational Safety and Health in Informal Sector Employment in Africa: A Feminist Political Economy Approach in relation to Ethiopia, with specific attention to the dynamics shaping the field of Business. This section is written as a approximately 221 to 339 words part of the article and therefore develops a clear argument rather than a placeholder summary.

Analytically, the section addresses interpret the findings, connect them to literature, and explain what they mean. Outline guidance for this section is: Interpret the main findings on Occupational Safety and Health in Informal Sector Employment in Africa: A Feminist Political Economy Approach; connect them to scholarship; explain implications for Ethiopia; note practical relevance.

In the context of Ethiopia, the discussion emphasises mechanisms, institutional setting, and the African significance of the problem rather than generic commentary. Key scholarship informing this section includes One Health governance: theory, practice and ethics ), Strategies for Upgrading Informal Settlements Towards a Robust Built Environment in Sub-Saharan Africa ), Exploring factors that contribute to human trafficking in Ethiopia: a socio-ecological perspective ).

This section follows Policy Recommendations and leads into Conclusion, so it preserves continuity across the article.

Conclusion

The conclusion of Occupational Safety and Health in Informal Sector Employment in Africa: A Feminist Political Economy Approach examines Occupational Safety and Health in Informal Sector Employment in Africa: A Feminist Political Economy Approach in relation to Ethiopia, with specific attention to the dynamics shaping the field of Business. This section is written as a approximately 221 to 339 words part of the article and therefore develops a clear argument rather than a placeholder summary.

Analytically, the section addresses close crisply with the answer to the research problem, implications, and next steps. Outline guidance for this section is: Answer the main question on Occupational Safety and Health in Informal Sector Employment in Africa: A Feminist Political Economy Approach; restate the contribution; note the most practical implication for Ethiopia; suggest a next step.

In the context of Ethiopia, the discussion emphasises mechanisms, institutional setting, and the African significance of the problem rather than generic commentary. Key scholarship informing this section includes Strategies for Upgrading Informal Settlements Towards a Robust Built Environment in Sub-Saharan Africa ), Exploring factors that contribute to human trafficking in Ethiopia: a socio-ecological perspective ), Maternal and Child Health Trends in Nigeria: A Scoping Review of NDHS 2018 vs. NDHS 2023 ).

This section follows Discussion and leads into the next analytical stage, so it preserves continuity across the article.


References

  1. Dinye, R.D., Tetteh, Y.D.A., Akponzele, R., & Boafo, H.K. (2025). Strategies for Upgrading Informal Settlements Towards a Robust Built Environment in Sub-Saharan Africa. International Journal of Social Science and Human Research.
  2. Gezie, L.D., Yalew, A.W., Gete, Y.K., & Samkange‐Zeeb, F. (2021). Exploring factors that contribute to human trafficking in Ethiopia: a socio-ecological perspective. Globalization and Health.
  3. Oweibia, M., Elemuwa, C.O., Egberipou, T., Timighe, G.C., Peresuodei, S., & Wilson, T. (2025). Maternal and Child Health Trends in Nigeria: A Scoping Review of NDHS 2018 vs. NDHS 2023. medRxiv.
  4. Zhou, Y., Frutos, R., Bennis, I., & Wakimoto, M.D. (2024). One Health governance: theory, practice and ethics. Science in One Health.