DEER

Dignity, Employment and Enterprise Reform (DEER)

Dignity, Employment and Enterprise Reform (DEER) is a public policy advocacy initiative by Malkia Africa Network focused on removing the regulatory barriers that keep women-led micro and small enterprises trapped in informality.

Across Africa, many women operate informal businesses not by choice, but because complex registration systems, excessive licensing requirements, rigid labor regulations, and unpredictable enforcement make formal participation costly and risky. DEER works to shift this reality by promoting research-driven reforms that simplify business formalization and create an enabling environment for women entrepreneurs to grow.

Through policy research, regulatory mapping, coalition building, and direct engagement with policymakers, DEER addresses informality as an institutional problem — not a personal failure. The goal is not temporary support, but lasting institutional change that expands economic freedom, protects dignity, and strengthens inclusive prosperity across Africa.

All Projects