Côte d'Ivoire's Informal Economy Contribution to GDP: An Action Research Study

Côte d'Ivoire's economic development has been hindered by a significant portion of its economy operating informally, which is not captured in official GDP statistics. An action research study involving qualitative interviews with key informants, focus group discussions, and a review of existing literature on economic policies in Côte d'Ivoire. The informal economy contributes approximately 30% to the country's GDP, highlighting its substantial but overlooked role in the Ivorian economy. Policy makers must prioritise initiatives that encourage formalization while maintaining social welfare programmes for vulnerable groups within the informal sector. Implement targeted financial inclusion schemes and provide microfinance support to facilitate smoother transition into formal sectors. Côte d'Ivoire, Informal Economy, GDP Contribution, Policy Recommendations