The informal sector plays a significant role in Africa as a major source of employment, income, goods and services, and thus is a significant contributor to Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Furthermore, informal sector statistics are essential for policy formulation and analysis regarding poverty reduction, labor force and employment, and socioeconomic development. As many African countries encounter limitations in measuring the informal sector, ECA has decided to compile an Operational Guidebook on Accounting for Informal Sector in National Accounts, to serve as reference material for African countries to improve their methodologies for measuring the informal sector. The guidebook will contain case studies and best practices from African countries. As a reference document, the guidebook will help national statistical offices in Africa to regularly estimate the informal sector and informal employment, and to improve national accounts by accounting for informal activities.

As part of the African Project on the implementation of the 2008 System of National Accounts, the Expert Group Meeting on Statistics for SDGs: Accounting for Informal Sector in National Accounts will be organized by the African Centre for Statistics of ECA from 11 to 14 January 2016 in Addis Ababa. The purpose of the meeting is to (i) present the draft of the guidebook; (ii) share and exchange experiences and best practices of methodologies and procedures for collecting and compiling informal sector data; and (iii) share and exchange experiences and best practices on how to integrate the informal sector into national accounts. The meeting is expected to broaden delegates’ knowledge and help countries to improve the measurement of informal sector. Furthermore, the first draft of the Operational Guidebook on Accounting for Informal Sector in National Accounts will be reviewed and discussed with feedback on the follow-up revision and improvement.