Fostering Collaboration and Stakeholder Engagement for Sustainable Decent Work Policies in Africa: Lessons From Ghana

• Published in: Public administration and development Vol. 45; no. 3; pp. 281 - 295
• Main Authors: Nordjo, Eric, Ahenkan, Albert, Okbandrias, Meron, Boadu, Evans Sakyi, Boon, Emmanuel, Otchere‐Ankrah, Benjamin, Knoblich, Ruth, Kwawu, Godwin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chichester Wiley Periodicals Inc 01.08.2025
• Subjects: Case studies; Civil society; Collaboration; Collaborative approach; collaborative governance; decent work; Decentralization; Ghana; Governance; Local government; Partnerships; Pilot projects; Psychological safety; stakeholder engagement; Stakeholders; Sustainability; Sustainable development; Triangulation; Work; Ghana; Africa
• ISSN: 0271-2075; 1099-162X
• DOI: 10.1002/pad.2106

ABSTRACT To meet the 169 targets of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), it has been argued that governments alone are unable to deal with its associated challenges. Consequently, studies have shown how expanding governance to public, private, and civil society organizations (CSO) across scales could help make significant contributions to achieving the SDGs. Despite this admission, little is known about stakeholder engagement and collaborative approaches that could foster effective partnerships between and among stakeholders in pursuance of decent work policies. Using the Decent Work Pilot Project (DWPP) in Ghana as a case study, we draw insights from key informants through in‐depth interviews to identify relevant stakeholders, their roles, interests, forms of engagement, benefits and challenges associated with promoting decent work policies and practices among informal workers in two local districts in the country. Employing a qualitative thematic analysis technique rooted in data triangulation approach, we propose a framework that guides stakeholder collaborations for delivering decent work policies. The framework particularly mirrors the important role of local governments as ‘partnership brokers’ that create a safe space for multi‐stakeholder engagement. The paper concludes with pertinent lessons that can serve as catalysts for formulating and implementing effective and successful future decent work policies and practices in Ghana and Africa at large.