On the 25th February 2016, in London, IIED and partners hosted a conference to help build a new policy agenda for integrating the informal economy into inclusive green growth and sustainable development. It was titled ‘The biggest ‘private sector’: what place for the informal economy in green and inclusive growth?’ and featured speakers from research, policy and practice, including from Brazil, Ethiopia, Ghana, Indonesia and South Africa.

Together, participants demonstrated the variety and vigour of informal economies around the world, shared lessons and benefits, explored challenges for formalisation and highlighted success stories.

This document captures some of the evidence and insights presented at that event and summarises the key discussion points made on the day. It is not intended as a comprehensive general reader on informality and green growth.