Livelihood in the Informal Sector of Addis Ababa: A Case Study of Street Vendors of Bole Sub-City, 'Megenagna'and'hayahulet'areas
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Date
2013-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
This study alfempted to assess the livelihoods conditions o.lstreet vendors in the urban informal
sector o.l Eastern Addis Ababa, 'Jllfegenagna' and 'hahyahulet ' areas. It also depicts and
analyses the major problems that vendors are facing in earning their livelihoods and
intervention and responses by the government authorities. Livelihood approach is adopted to look at the issues to get insights on how street vendors are
making a living in the urban inlormal sector in Addis Ababa. It has looked at how street vendors
are making a living and how they have changed the access to assets as compared to their
previous condition. In order to achieve the above objective, the researcher uses both quantitative and qualitative
research methods and the relevant data were gathered through questionnaire, interviews and
observations. The data collected Fom different sources were analyzed quantitatively (using
Fequency and, percent) and qualitative textual method was deployed The study finds that, street vending is an opportunity to both rural and urban poor for making a
living in the urban areas. The current livelihoods of street vendors, as compared with their
previous occupation, have improved after gelling involved in the street vending. Access to assets
shows street vendors have improved their physical, social, human andjinancial capital assets as
compared to their previous condition. Thus, street vending in Addis Ababa can be accounted as
a resource rather than a problem. However, there are conFontations between authorities and vendors over licensing, taxation and
encroachment o.l public places and pavements. Street vending in spite of its crucial role for
providing employment and livelihoods to both urban and rural poor, its economic importance is
rarely recognized either in national poverty reduction strategies or in city governance initiatives.
Urban authorities in Addis Ababa take it as an illegal and unproductive sector, and their
response to street trading is, too often, harassment of Iraders and eviction, which causes conflict
between authorilies and vendors
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Keywords
Study of Street Vendors