Exploring the use of domestic spaces for home Based income generation ﴾The Case Of WISE Of Addis-Ketema, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia﴿
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Date
2015-02
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Addis Ababauniversity
Abstract
Addis Ababa, the capital city of Ethiopia, a bustling metropolis is a small-scale fabric of
global mainstreams, 80% living in slums, 51% working in the informal sector. Among the
informal sector, home-based enterprise is very crucial in Addis Ababa, where 70% of the
people are running business reported the same. Hence, this study was motivated to explore
the implication of accommodating home based work in the domestic space, in areas where
the population density is high (E.g. Addis-Ketema, Addis Ababa). Therefore, selfemployed
women in Addis-Ketema are used as a case study.
Methods employed in data collection include field observation, self -administered
in-depth interview with households and key-informants, photo registration,
measurement and drawing of domestic spaces. Drawing on this data, the paper
examines implication of domestic space use for home based work.
The study found out that home-based enterprise (HBE) is not spatially confined to
the dwelling and scarcity of space does not prevent from accommodating the HBE
in the dwelling. Home-based workers use the domestic space starting from the
dwelling, to the courtyard and neighborhood street. As a result, HBE operators
use different techniques to configure these spaces, starting from a simple
(cleaning and changing of function of space) to comprehensive (adjusting
partitions, extension and enclosure of veranda, replacing the structure step-bystep,
constructing rooms & building temporary movable structures).
The study has also revealed that the benefits of accomodating this HBE at the
domestic space are: closeness to customers & service (time and money saving),
symbiosis in the phenomenon and optimal use of the house, household
participation and family supervision, and enhancement of security. However, the
challenges are nuisance related (noise, smell, dust and smoke), risks related
(Such as health, privacy, and security), and crowding.
The study found out HBEs are the primary income source to support the
households. Despite the fact that, respondents have different perception
regarding the use of domestic space for home based work. The integration of
HBE activities into the domestic setting is appreciated: when dwellers have small
household number, ample room area or where the activity intensively takes place
outside the dwelling (such as, courtyard and adjacent neighborhood streets).As well as, households support the integration of the HBE activity when there is
no movement of the working equipment. Surprisingly, households with scarce
space and having large household number, still have positive perception due to
its being their indispensible income source, enabling them to cover their daily
expenses.
Nevertheless, respondents have a negative perception towards intgration of the
home based income generation activity in the domestic space, where the activity
creates health related risk (dust & smoke) and crowdedness.
Based on the findings, the study concluded that accommodation of the HBE in the
domestic space is an important way through which the low-income households
can earn and boost their living. Hence, understanding the configuration and
meaning of the domestic space for this purpose is essential.
Key Words: Home-based income generation; domestic space configuration, women in
self-employment (WISE), Addis-Ketema, Addis Ababa
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Keywords
Home-based income generation; domestic space configuration; women in self-employment (WISE; Addis-Ketema; Addis Ababa