Exploring the Livelihood of Female Street Vendors from Selected Sites of Addis Ababa
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Date
2019-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
This study attempts to explore the livelihood of female street vendors, focusing on selected sites
of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The main perspective of the study is grounded in sustainable
livelihood frame work and third wave feminist perspective. The study draws on case study
design with a mixed approach to data collection and analysis. Data collection is facilitated by
questioner, in-depth interview, key informant interview and observation that has been backed up
by researchers own field notes. The study has mainly used methods mentioned above to obtain
data from the participants of the study, female street vendors from chosen sites of the Addis
Ababa city, namely Shiromeda, Sidist Kilo, Shola, Megenagna and Kotebe . Totally 143 female
street vendors participated in the study; In addition, the researcher conducted interviews with
officials from the Addis Ababa Code Enforcement Office, Bureau of Women and Children Affairs
and Bureau of Labor and Social Affairs. Data analysis reveals that street vending has been taken
as a livelihood mechanism for female street vendors who were married and unmarried as well as
young and old. In terms of the asset possession of the female street vendor, the study showed that
street vendors had not well developed assets. The study implies that the participants generated
income from diverse forms of activities and face vulnerabilities in terms of health, legality,
housing and working conditions, access to food and important resources. The study has found
that female street vendors who took part in the study employed different forms coping
mechanisms to overcome vulnerabilities. Based on the findings of the study the researcher
recommends that Government Structures in Addis Ababa City Administration such as Bureau of
Women and Children Affairs, Bureau of Labor and Social Affairs should pay the necessary
attention to the lives of women street vendors in bringing sustainable urban development.
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Keywords
female street vendors, livelihood, asset, vulnerabilities, coping mechanism, survival strategies