Click here for the Conference Programme
Click here to go to the main page for all of the Conference Papers
Click here for the final version of the Conference Outcome Document
Click here for a list of critical issues and controversies in BER and the Informal Economy
Click here to see photographs from the conference
Click here to see an artist's impressions of the key conference outcomes
Participants enjoyed a programme full of knowledge and insights on how business environment reform can promote the formalisation of the informal economy. They heard many stories and experiences from around the world –– not just from experts, but also from practitioners from all walks of life. There were many opportunities to engage in thorough discussions with all these people.
The programme was designed to enable participants to simultaneously undergo a process of learning, visioning and materialising conference insights. The conference enabled participants to undergo a three-part process of discovering (Days 1 &2), creating (Day 3) and exploring (Day 4):
Days 1 and 2 were dedicated to ‘Discovering’: share, discover and learn different insights and experiences in business environment reform and the informal economy. There were interactive discussions around major business environment reform experiences. Some conference delegates provided discussion inputs in the form of key issues, approaches and concepts, as well as ideas, experiences, case studies, tools and resources on the dimensions of informality and business environment reform studies.
Day 3 was about ‘Creating’: Delegates consolidated and assessed the observations and insights of the first day, looking for trends, principles and practices in an interactive workshop approach. The facilitators applied the Future Search Conference methodology allowing the sharing of ideas and their refinement in light of the immediate response and feedback.
Day 4 opened room for ‘Exploring’, using Open Space Technology format with minimal facilitation interference. Many participants nominated and led discussions on issues to explore more deeply with like-minded participants.