Informal Economy Index

While informal workers contribute nearly half of the country’s economy, most lack social security, savings buffers, or access to welfare systems. As a result, small shocks - illness, missed wages, or unexpected expenses - can quickly lead to long-term debt and instability.

IEI bridges this gap by combining grassroots engagement with structured data systems. Our model follows three steps: Identify, Intervene, Sustain. We map early risk factors such as income volatility, debt dependence, and welfare exclusion; connect workers to bank accounts, government schemes, and emergency support; and maintain long-term follow-ups through volunteers and digital tools.

So far, our youth volunteer network has supported thousands of workers across multiple districts, improving financial stability and welfare access. With support from the Global Youth Action Fund, we aim to expand data collection, train more youth facilitators, deploy technology-enabled welfare outreach, and produce policy-ready insights that help governments act earlier and more effectively.

Our goal is simple: turn vulnerability into independence by ensuring no worker remains invisible to systems meant to support them.

Find out more: https://informal-economy-index.web.app/ AND https://www.instagram.com/informaleconomyindex?igsh=MTljamE2cDh3dnZlNg==