Streetnet International

General information

StreetNet International alliance of street vendors was launched in Durban, South Africa, in November 2002. Membership-based organizations (unions, co-operatives or associations) directly organizing street vendors, market vendors and/or hawkers among their members, are entitled to affiliate to StreetNet International.

The aim of StreetNet is to promote the exchange of information and ideas on critical issues facing street vendors, market vendors and hawkers (i.e. mobile vendors) and on practical organizing and advocacy strategies.

Through StreetNet, member organizations should gain an understanding of the common problems of street vendors, develop new ideas for strengthening their organizing and advocacy efforts, and join in international campaigns to promote policies and actions that can contribute to improving the lives of millions of street vendors, market vendors and hawkers around the world.

Representatives from four organisations, in particular, have played a key role in the genesis and evolution of StreetNet International: the Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA) in Ahmedabad, India; the Self-Employed Women’s Union (SEWU) in Durban, South Africa; Women’s World Banking in New York, and the International Coalition of Women and Credit in New York. StreetNet is supported by the action research of Women in Informal Employment: Globalising and Organising (WIEGO) – primarily its Urban Policies Programme.