Effects of Urban Productive Safety Net Program in Addis Ababa City Administration

Abstract or Introduction

The aim of this study is to assess the effects of urban productive safety net program on the livelihood of the ultrapoor in Addis Ababa City Administration, with particular focus on Kolfe Keranio Sub-City.

Specifically, the study focuses on the socio-economic status of the graduate-households before and after joining UPSNP and, challenges facing the graduate-households in the process of attaining sustainable IGA's. Furthermore, on opportunities gained benefiting from UPSNP and to assess attitudes of the communities towards the graduates/program.

Within these, mixed approaches were employed to gather data. Moreover, a stratified sampling method was administered in order to maintain equal chances to women and men. To this end, a cross-sectional survey was employed to collect data from 179 graduate-household heads. Structured interviews, focus group discussions, key informant interviews as well as observation of the researcher were also adopted in order to gather qualitative data.

The finding of the research reveals that UPSNP has not brought a significant change on the livelihood of the graduate-households. No convincing difference was observed among households before and after joining UPSNP, although, very few households confirmed they have seen positive effects. The investigation has also ascertained the existence of so many challenges affecting the process of IGA's from the households side and government side as well as nation-wide obstacles such as inflation/food price rise/ and house rent increment, since the majority of the graduate-households dwell in rental houses.

The interpretation also confirmed the presence of special opportunities for the graduate-households being beneficiary of the program. And, almost all the communities have positive attitude towards the graduate-household and the program. Furthermore, the researcher recommended that special credit access should be facilitated to support and boosts the IGA's. Eventually, work places should be allotted before grant, problem of housing and inflation should be taken careful attention to solve and additional components other than the support component should be facilitated.