ROLE OF NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS IN ALLEVIATING URBAN POVERTY IN DIRE DAWA CITY, ETHIOPIA

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.