The Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) is one of the eight Regional Economic Communities (RECs) created by the African Union to promote and strengthen harmonious cooperation and dynamic, balanced and autonomous development in all areas of economic and social activity with a view to the gradual establishment of a common market. Today, the ECCAS region accounts for 19% of the population of sub-Saharan Africa (estimated at 223 million), and this proportion could increase by almost 3% to reach 21.5% in 2030 and 22.4% in 2063.

Although population growth has slowed in many Central African nations in recent years, living standards have not improved significantly across the region as a whole, and major efforts are needed to reduce the growing inequality, high levels of informality and to promote inclusive growth in the region. For instance, Rwanda, the DRC, Burundi, CAR, and Chad have all recorded low human development indices these last few years, reflected in low life expectancy, low levels of education, inadequate incomes, and poor quality of life. In other words, the level of human development in these countries remains insufficient to meet the basic needs of their current and future populations, who face enormous difficulties in providing basic services such as access to drinking water, food, and healthcare.

The problem is acute for young workers. According to the United Nations (2022), 51.1% of young workers in Central Africa live in precarious or extreme poverty. Young workers’ exposure to extreme poverty is compounded by the fact that in most of the ECCAS region’s countries, a job is no longer a guarantee of decent living conditions or a pathway out of poverty. Female employees are even more vulnerable to poverty or the risk of poverty than their male counterparts, with inequality continuing to rise. According to the World Bank (2021), the percentage of women in vulnerable employment, i.e., unpaid family workers and the self-employed as a percentage of total employment, was estimated at 80.72%, compared with 65.78% for their male counterparts, accounting for the predominance of the informal sector in the economy.

Reducing poverty trends in Central Africa requires overcoming persistent gender inequalities, especially within the vast informal sector that dominates the economy. To achieve this, it is essential to identify the root causes and find long- term solutions. Actions must therefore focus on promoting decent work, sufficient income, job security, a safe and healthy working environment, adequate working conditions, employment opportunities and adequate social protection, especially for the most vulnerable groups. Initiatives are also needed to reduce the over-representation of women among the poor, as the combination of poverty and informality places workers in a particularly vulnerable position in the labor market.

Privately funded think tanks and independent policy research institutions play a critical role in achieving desired results, especially in promoting the emergence of open societies where there is rule of law. They are the pivotal engines for improving human capital and stimulating public dialogue, especially with regard to public policies built on evidence and data from the ground to spur economic transformation. Unfortunately, ECCAS think tanks continue to remain institutionally fragile, unable to exert effective influence in promoting the emergence of open societies in the region as well as accountable governments. Reflecting on the challenges during a recent meeting in Yaounde, Cameroon, twenty- five think tank leaders from Central Africa highlighted key challenges think tanks face in the region, including (but not limited to) : very limited institutional capacity, fewer skilled researchers, weak knowledge transformation processes, inadequate advocacy tools, and the pervasive lack of sustainable funding streams.

Think tanks in Central Africa face significant challenges that limit their ability to adequately advocate for policies that promote open, democratic and accountable governance. Not surprisingly, the region has the weakest think tanks on the continent, with minimal financial support or capacity building compared to other African regions. Think tanks in the Central Africa region also struggle to produce quality research and policy outputs that meet global standards. This is mainly due to the limited number of well-trained academics, researchers, communication and development professionals, think tank leaders and administrators. The retention of highly qualified experts and leaders continues to be a major challenge, as well as the lack of major funding mechanisms or external support to drive these institutions forward.

In order to see transformative progress in the ECCAS region in terms of reducing poverty, inequality and informality trends, while ensuring inclusive economic growth and sustainable development in line with the provisions of the SDGs 1 (no poverty), 5 (gender equality), and 8 (decent work and economic growth), there is a need to significantly strengthen the capacity and capabilities of independent think tanks through networking, advocacy, coalitions, and new knowledge products and easy-to-use toolkits.
How can these think tanks mobilize movements and networks across the ECCAS region to reduce poverty in the Central African region ? How can think tank leaders and researchers be better equipped to respond appropriately and nimbly to reverse the rising tide of inequality and informality in ECCAS countries ? How can they have a sustainable impact at the national, regional and continental levels ? These are the key questions that our SCATT/3I project seeks to answer.

Objectives
The project will focus on promoting long-term structural changes that will have a substantial and measurable impact on reducing poverty, inequality and informality while promoting inclusive growth in the region.

Specific Objectives :
1. Generating a high quality and policy relevant knowledge base through tool kits, knowledge products and communication strategies that contribute to the economic transformation, democratic governance, openness and readiness of the Central African region ;
2. Building and strengthening human and institutional capacities of Central African think tanks to conduct independent and rigorous policy relevant research ; and
3. Enhancing information dissemination, policy outreach, advocacy and engagement with stakeholders in the Central African sub-region and other continental institutions.

Methodology Quantitative Approach :
(a) National Representative Surveys :
Population and Sampling : We will conduct national representative surveys among the working-age population (15 years and above). The sample size will be determined using stratified random sampling to ensure representativeness across different regions, genders, and age groups.

Data Collection : Surveys will be administered through structured questionnaires designed to capture data on informality, inequalities and/or inclusive growth. The questionnaires will include both closed and open-ended questions to gather comprehensive data. It will be pilot tested and validated prior to deployment. Written and verbal informed consent will be obtained from all survey respondents.

Data Analysis : Statistical analysis will be performed using Stata software. Descriptive statistics will summarize the data, while inferential statistics (e.g., regression analysis) will be used to identify significant predictors of employment outcomes and digital skills acquisition.

Qualitative Approach :
(b) Key Informant Interviews :
Participants : Key informants will include policymakers, industry leaders, educators, job seekers, research experts and representatives from NGOs working on the informal sector and others. These individuals will provide expert insights into the opportunities and challenges of inclusive economic growth and its contributions to the future of work in the region.

Data Collection : Semi-structured interviews will be conducted to explore emerging themes such as barriers to business formalization, reducing inequalities, gender disparities, effective job creation strategies and promoting inclusive economic growth.

Data Analysis : Thematic analysis will be employed to identify and interpret patterns and themes within the qualitative data. Atlas.ti qualitative data analysis software will be used to organize and code the data systematically.

Main Publications
• A country report written by each think tank partner to address inequality, informality and/or promote inclusive economic growth.
• A flagship research report (with gender equality as a cross-cutting theme) written by the think tank partners and the publication of a flagship report to engage policymakers and non-state actors on the three main areas outlined in this project (informality, inequality and inclusive economic growth).