By: Edwin Bett, HomeNet Africa Regional Coordinator and HNI

HomeNet Africa, in conjunction with HomeNet International, is running an access-to-markets initiative aimed at improving the livelihoods and working conditions of home-based workers (HBWs) in the countries where our affiliates operate.

This initiative follows a series of six webinars conducted between March 2022 and February 2024, which covered perspectives from regions such as Africa and Southeast Asia, as well as successful strategies adopted during the pandemic. The final webinar focused on future planning and how HomeNet International may assist home-based workers in gaining access to markets.

Two webinars were held in October and November for an audience that included home-based workers and leaders from the African region. These webinars focused on the following objectives:

  • Increased reach: Expand the audience to include more consumers, potential partners, and stakeholders.
  • Sustainability: Contribute to the long-term sustainability of livelihoods by ensuring stable income sources and opportunities for growth.
  • Empowerment: Empower home-based workers to assert their economic independence, make informed decisions about their work, and advocate for their rights within the supply chain.
  • Capacity-building: Offer training programs, workshops, and resources to enhance the skills, knowledge, and capabilities of women home-based workers.
  • Advocacy opportunities: Advocate for fair wages, safe working conditions, and social protection for home-based workers, amplifying their voices and advancing their rights on a broader scale.
  • Networking and collaboration: Facilitate networking opportunities and connections with other organizations, businesses, and policymakers in the informal economy and women's empowerment fields, fostering collaboration and collective action.
  • Data and research: Generate valuable data and insights on market trends, challenges, and opportunities for women home-based workers.
  • Visibility and impact: Raise awareness about the contributions, challenges, and needs of home-based workers, increasing public support for their cause and amplifying their impact.
During these sessions, templates and other essential documents were presented and shared with affiliates, who were requested to fill them out to facilitate follow-up on the webinar topics and map the specific needs of each affiliate. Ahead of the second webinar, a detailed form was distributed to all affiliates to gather key information about their organizational structures, needs, and interests related to access to markets. Both webinars were recorded, featured interpretation in English and Swahili, and will be made available on HNI’s website under the dedicated Access to Markets section.

HNI’s Access to Markets Programme

In 2024, HNI delved deeper into the Access to Markets (A2M) program to provide a specific and contextualized understanding, knowledge, and insights into markets and their associated aspects.

Accordingly, HNI appointed Monica Raina as the Strategic Consultant for A2M. Monica has been working in the development sector for almost three decades and has extensively engaged in women’s economic empowerment, leading projects and programs in South Asia and parts of Africa. She also works as an international consultant with the World Bank, United Nations, and other national and international institutions.

The activities under the A2M Programme will include product and skill mapping, go-to-market readiness, market identification, business and marketing plan development as part of entrepreneurship development, product design and development, digital marketing, training on sales pitches, honing communication skills with buyers, and more.

Over time, HNI may also identify e-marketplaces or companies hosting e-commerce platforms focused on connecting customers directly with HBWs worldwide.