The Informal Economy and Its Contribution to GDP in Côte d'Ivoire: An Action Research Study

The informal economy in Côte d'Ivoire plays a significant role in the country's GDP but is often underestimated due to lack of official data. An action research study was conducted using qualitative interviews with business owners, surveys among microfinance institutions, and government documents analysis. Microfinance institutions reported that over 70% of their clients operate in the informal sector, contributing approximately 1 billion annually to GDP. The informal economy is a substantial contributor to Côte d'Ivoire's GDP, highlighting the need for supportive policies and data collection efforts. Developing targeted financial products specifically for informal sector businesses and improving data collection methods are recommended. informal economy, GDP contribution, microfinance, policy recommendations