Learning and working in the informal economy remains a reality for millions of women and men around the world. Safeguarding and improving the quality of training, products and services can greatly contribute to higher productivity, development of local markets, better working conditions and career prospects, transition to the formal economy, consumer protection, and social cohesion in communities. This guide is based on nine case studies from Africa, Asia and Latin America and demonstrates that bottom-up skills assessments are feasible and yield multiple benefits, yet need to be managed well to be effective.