The forum was conceptualised following the raising if the following question: "How do we understand innovation capabilities that can promote thriving informal enterprises, aligned with poverty reduction and job creation efforts?"
The forum says that it aims to bring together leading South African scholars and practitioners in the fields of:
- innovation
- development
- urban development
- education and skills development, and
- public administration.
This will be with public policymakers and informal enterprises to discuss the kinds of capabilities needed to stimulate innovation and learning in South African informal enterprises. The main aim of the forum is to identify ways to support informal enterprises to develop these capabilities.
According to the divisional executive of the HSRC's Centre for Science Technology and Innovation Indicators (CeSTII), Dr Glenda Kruss, informal enterprises play a critical role in economic survival in South Africa — particularly among the most vulnerable, women and youth.
They create livelihood opportunities and provide low-income households with access to affordable goods and services.
"Many informal enterprises survive because they can adapt quickly to meet the needs of the markets they serve. However, despite operating for several years, many remain necessity-driven. They have uncertain levels of income, support one or two families and survive from crisis to crisis. Most do not thrive to contribute significantly to expand livelihood opportunities and employment in local economies," says Dr Kruss.
Moreover, Dr Kruss concludes that the impact of the Covid-19 lockdowns highlighted blatantly the significance of survivalist informal enterprises for building resilient local economies in townships and similar resource-poor settings in peri-urban and peri-rural areas.
The forum will take place in Philippi village, home to a diverse community of entrepreneurs and small business owners.
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