Abstract:
This research was conducted with the objective of assessing the role of NGOs in alleviating
urban poverty in Dire Dawa city. This thesis was undertaken making use of both primary and
secondary data sources. Survey was conducted on 398 poor beneficiaries derived from the
selected five NGOs, and key informant interviews were made with officials of government and
Non-government organizations, and community members. In addition, focus group discussions
were made with local and international NGO beneficiaries. The collected data was analyzed
using mixed approach using both quantitative and qualitative methods of analysis. The
quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics such as percentage, frequency
distribution and mean through the use of SPSS version 20 software, and the qualitative was
analyzed manually through careful interpretation of meanings and pattern matching, and finally
the qualitative and quantitative data was integrated in accordance to the objective of the study.
The findings revealed that the support given by almost all NGOs, as compared to the total
number of poor’s and complexity of poverty in the city, is very specific and limited to small
number of poor peoples. NGOs in Dire Dawa are viewed by the respondents to be significant
actors in urban poverty reduction. NGOs have different services to the urban poor though their
support is limited. The study revealed that NGOs are delivering different kinds of services to
their beneficiaries majorly includes health, education, shelter care and renovation, food and
nutrition support. Poverty is understood by research participant as lack of basic necessities of
life, asset, education and income, a state of laziness and poor working habit created in the minds
of the actors. The study also revealed insufficient funding, community’s attitude, problems of
project sustainability, duplication of efforts, limited capacity building work, the complex nature
of poverty in the city, lack of clear community mapping, and poor networks among different
stakeholders as a main challenge NGOs are experiencing. Coordinated and collaborated effort
of all concerned bodies including greater involvement of NGOs with expanded services and
sustainability to be vital to alleviate poverty in the city.
