This article presents the findings for 11 cities across five geographical regions from a study led by Women in Informal Employment: Globalizing and Organizing, investigating the impacts of the COVID‐19 crisis on different groups of informal workers and their households. Detailing impacts on work and income, food and hunger, care and other household responsibilities, and on the coping strategies of informal worker households, the article also compares the roles of government and informal worker organizations in providing relief and other support. Based on worker demands, the authors present guiding principles for a better deal for informal workers going forward.

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This summary highlights key learning from research from the Covid-19 Responses for Equity (CORE) initiative focusing on the impact the pandemic is having across different vulnerable groups and how gender intersects and often exacerbates these effects. Supported by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), CORE brings together 21 projects to understand the socioeconomic impacts of the pandemic, improve existing responses, and generate better policy options for recovery. The research is being led primarily by local researchers, universities, thinktanks and civil society organisations across 42 countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East.

Résumé Les auteurs présentent les conclusions d'une étude dirigée par le réseau Femmes dans l'emploi informel: globalisation et organisation (WIEGO) sur les effets de la crise du COVID‐19 sur les travailleurs informels. L'analyse porte sur quatre professions et onze grandes villes de cinq régions. Il y est question du travail et des revenus, de l'accès à l'alimentation et de la faim, des responsabilités familiales et domestiques, ainsi que des stratégies d'adaptation des ménages. Les auteurs évoquent également les mesures de soutien proposées par les gouvernements et les organisations de travailleurs informels. Enfin, ils énoncent une série de principes devant guider l'action en faveur de ce groupe.