Livelihood Strategies of Informal Women Vendors in Akaki Kaliti Sub-city, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Abstract

In developing countries, such as Ethiopia, rapid urbanization is taking place due to rural-urban migration and population growth. Addis Ababa, the capital city, has been growing in leaps and bounds. The growth of urbanization has brought both opportunities such as innovations, better access to services, and infrastructures as well as challenges for jobless, poor and informal women vendors spotting the city’s streets. Hence the aim of this study was to examine the livelihood strategies of informal women vendors (IWVs) and right to access public spaces in Addis Ababa City Administration, Akaki Kaliti Sub-city. The study was underpinned by Sustainable Livelihood Framework. In order to attain the objective, the study employed a mixed research approach of both qualitative and quantitative type and collected data from various sources. This include survey of 111 informal women vendors, key informant interview with 12 experts and government officials, as well as 4 focused group discussions. A mix of purposive to select the woredas and convenience sampling technique to select the individual survey has followed due to the nature of informal women vendors. The quantitative data were entered in and analyzed using Statistical Program for Social Science (SPPSS) Software Version 24 supported by Excel spreadsheet as required. The analysis was mainly descriptive statistics such as tabulation and cross-tabbing of different techniques, inferential statistics such as Chi-square test were used and comparisons were made between Woredas, and socioeconomic variables. The qualitative data were collected from FGDs and KIIs, which were recorded, transcribed, analyzed thematically, and narrated to substantiate and to triangulate quantitative findings. Moreover, the case stories were reported. The results showed that the IWVs were engaged in diversified livelihoods strategies to increase their income and minimize risks. Specifically, findings of the study revealed that the IWVs were mainly participated in food and beverage, vegetables and fruits, household utensils, and textiles and footwear. It was evidenced that vending is an essential livelihood strategy of the operators and constituted more than one-third of household income. They have poor livelihood assets, and policy supports. Moreover, they are highly vulnerable due to poor enabling environment, no protection and right to access to public services and spaces, seasonality/price fluctuations, physical and psychological attacks, sexual harassments, and robbery and theft. Thus, in order to improve the livelihood of IWVs and uplift them from poverty, informal vending must be recognized as viable business: that they must access to financial services, public space and services, and material and equipment loan; that their social networks must be strengthened through forming association; and that they must be empowered through provision of training on business skills, entrepreneurship, personal development, and life skills. Finally, authorities (Job Creation and Urban Safety-net, Micro and Small Enterprises, Police, and Trade and Industry Bureaus) should closely work with pertinent stakeholders to challenge the normalized and continues execution of the IWVs to benefit from growing urban economies.