Assessment of Integrated Housing Development Program in Addis Ababa: Housing Provision and Employment Creation
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Date
2010-10
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
The major goals of the Integrated Housing Development Program in Addis Ababa (IHDPAA)
are government housing production to meet the housing needs of the low and medium income
people and also to create mass employment opportunity for Micro and Small Enterprises
(MSEs). The purpose of this paper is to assess the effectiveness of the Program in meeting these
two goals and the challenges that are facing the Program in meeting these goals. Questionnaires
had been distributed for condominium house owners on a random basis and to MSE operators
by using stratified sampling method in Arada, Bole and Nifas Silk Lafto Sub Cities. Focus Group
Discussion was conducted with Site committee members and MSE supervisors in the above
selected sub cities in addition to the in - depth interview with MSE and housing officials from
Addis Ababa Housing Development Project Office, Ministry of Works and Urban Development,
and the selected sub Cities. Percentages, tables, graphs and coefficient of correlation by using
SPSS version 17.0 were used in analyzing and examining the quantitative data. The empirical
results indicate that IHDPAA is not achieving its goal as originally planned. The first goal of
meeting the housing demand of low and medium income people did not achieve due to slow rate
of housing production, low income level of residents, absence of housing finance, lack of
serviced land and lack of institutional capacity to effectively implement the Program. The
Program is successful in meeting the second goal that is creating employment opportunity. The
limitation of the Program with regard to employment is that the jobs created lacks sustainability.
The findings indicate that MSEs that are participating in the Program face different challenges
of growth and expansion. Therefore, the study suggests that the Program should consider
alternative housing delivery mechanisms to meet the housing demand of the city especially the
housing needs of the low and medium income people who are more vulnerable to the problem.
Supporting the MSEs, by solving the challenge they face, can enhance the job opportunity that
can be created by the Program. In addition, the government should consider other policy
interventions that encourage labor intensive technologies in order to reduce the unemployment
problem. Therefore, this study can be used as an important reference on some issues related to
IHDPAA in order to improve the effectiveness of the Program
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Keywords
Employment creation