The Role Of Self-help Groups In Enhancing Urban Livelihood Assets A Case Of Lideta- Kirkos Sub-cities Self-help Groups

Urbanization is taking place in Ethiopia with rapid urban population expansion, and povertyrnbecomes more urban. As more of the poor live in large urban centers of the country, therernare high levels of poverty, unemployment, and social vulnerability particularly in AddisrnAbaba (the capital city). Shocks and stresses such as price rise of food items and HHs’rnincome reduction impact the city’s poor more severely due to preexisting vulnerabilities,rnsocial inequality and lack of opportunities. On the other hand, with local ownership andrncontrol, the People’s Institution also called (Women) Self-Help Groups (SHGs) Approach isrnconsidered as an ideal model for enhancing livelihoods of their women beneficiaries who arernoften excluded from livelihood opportunities. Yet, the role of SHGs as livelihood assets andrnas initiative of economic empowerment hasn’t been properly designed and implemented byrnthe regulatory and policy organs. Basically, there is very limited empirical evidence onrnSHGs’ contribution of livelihood assets. With these premises, the study has explored thernrole of women SHGs in improving urban livelihood assets of beneficiaries (mainly poorerrnwomen HHHs). Data required for the study were collected from both primary and secondaryrnsources. The study employed qualitative and quantitative research design and datarncollection methods. The approach for data collection was a case study on women SHGsrnoperating in Lideta and Kirkos Sub-cities in Addis Ababa, and the study also employedrnpanel HH beneficiaries’ survey data drawn from Lideta-Kirkos SHG survey conducted inrn2013 and 2015 by LCO (SHG implementing NGO in the two Sub-cities) in collaboration withrnother institutions. The assessment revealed that the initiative has indeed improved livelihoodrnassets of the beneficiaries mainly by building skills of beneficiaries, strengthening theirrnsocial network, creating access to finances and IGAs, improving housing and HH furniture,rnand promoting grassroots decision-making. Yet, SHGs are not panacea by themselves andrnfaced some barriers such as: members’ low level of literacy and commitment as well asrnabsence of formal registration as legal entity. The study concludes that the SHG Approachrnhas proved to enhance livelihood assets of the beneficiaries in the study area and hasrnbecome way-out for addressing vulnerability to poverty of the beneficiaries despite thernbarriers they encountered. The study calls for interventions that scale-up and replicate thernpositive lessons and solves the barriers to SHG initiatives

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