Decent Work in Regional Value Chains: Promoting Public-Private Governance in Sub-Saharan Africa

The growth of South-South trade involving Southern lead firms and end markets presents critical challenges for the governance of decent work. However, we have limited information on whether the commercial dynamics of domestic and regional value chains (RVCs) coordinated by Southern lead firms undermine decent work. Or do they provide new channels for promoting labour standards through multi-stakeholder public-private alliances based in the global South? Can governance of RVCs in Southern markets become more ethical leading to labour outcomes that support sustainable development? This study aims to address this critical gap by asking: What are the implications of regional and domestic value chains in the global South for public-private governance and regulation of decent work in global production? This has key policy implications for the potential development of Southern-based multi-stakeholder public-private 'ethical trade platforms' to support Sustainable Development Goal 8 (SDG8) on decent work. The research addresses this question on three fronts.