Women in Informal Employment Globalizing and Organizing (WIEGO)

Women in Informal Employment: Globalizing and Organizing (WIEGO) is a global network dedicated to improving the working conditions, livelihoods, and rights of informal workers, with a focus on women and people living in poverty. WIEGO supports informal workers such as waste pickers, street vendors, and home-based workers through data-driven advocacy, inclusive research, and strategic policy engagement.

WIEGO’s work directly supports the mitigation of short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs), particularly methane and black carbon, through its integration of waste pickers into formal waste systems. These efforts contribute to:

• Methane reduction: by diverting organic waste from landfills and dumpsites.

• Black carbon reduction: by preventing open burning of waste.

WIEGO’s Greenhouse Gas Calculator enables waste picker organizations to quantify their contributions to climate change mitigation and advocate for their recognition and remuneration. Additionally, WIEGO is developing climate vulnerability maps and undertaking real-time climate impact monitoring for waste picker cooperatives in Brazil and India.

WIEGO has a strong international presence, operating across multiple countries and engaging with global institutions to advance inclusive climate and waste policies.

WIEGO is a member of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and an advisory member of several international initiatives including the End Plastic Pollution International Collaborative (EPPIC) and The Circulate Initiative.

Key Actions & Tools

• Integration of waste pickers into municipal waste systems in Brazil, Colombia, India, Ghana, and Senegal.

• Climate vulnerability assessments and adaptation strategies in urban informal sectors.

• Advocacy for climate-resilient infrastructure and just transition frameworks.

• Leadership in national and international climate platforms, including Brazil’s Climate Change Forum.