With an estimated 5.3 billion people online in 2023 (ITU), digital connectivity and transformation are rapidly changing every aspect of economic and social development worldwide. How can we ensure a human-centred, just, and sustainable economic transition in this transformation? It is clear that the global nature of digital technologies does not favour unilateral actions, and governments, academia, civil society, and the private sector must work together to introduce swift and tailored measures. This requires regional and international cooperation, joint resources, and learning for harmonised approaches. Building, maintaining and actioning this approach is the focus of this talk. With over 50 years of experience in development cooperation across 120 countries, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH is one of the leading agencies promoting fair global digital development. By discussing the goals and learnings of the Gig Economy Initiative, commissioned by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Development, Shakhlo Kakharova will provide concrete examples of GIZ’s interventions to date and their impacts in building a fair future of digital platform work.

Shakhlo Kakharova is a policy advisor for digital economy at the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH. She is part of the Gig Economy Initiative that aims to promote fair working conditions and higher labour standards in the platform economy. She also advises the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) on digital development and transformation. Prior to joining GIZ, she worked on digital and economic human rights at Amnesty International in Berlin and European social and economic policy at the EU Office of the Friedrich-Ebert-Foundation in Brussels.