The effect of development induced displacement on relocated household: The case of Addis Ababa

From the total of development-induced displacement, 60% (6 million displaced people) in the world are caused by urban related projects (Stanley 2004, Robinson 2003). Likewise, the city government of Addis Ababa is undertaking huge displacement program aiming to provide decent houses for its dwellers and to change the image of the city through inner city slum rehabilitation. Providing land for the displaced having land tenure right, condominium houses and finally kebele houses are the three relocation strategies but two of the three are the concern of this paper. Generally, what effect does have the displacement program on relocated livelihood and more specifically how the strategies enacted by the city government has affecting the displaced households requires to be examined. In this paper, the effect of displacement on relocatees livelihood in terms of economy, social solidarity and basic services and infrastructure is assessed using both qualitative and quantitative data collection approach. The findings of the study are substantiated and examined using literatures to see how it suit or deviate from the existing theory farmed through impoverishment, risks and reconstruction (IRR) model, the “right to the city” approach and housing. It argued that displacement program enabled some households to possess condominium houses (who able to pay). However, the paper also explores the former area( inner city) has multidimensional importance for dwellers in terms of source of their livelihood, residence area, centre of social solidarity and as hub of all basic services and infrastructures. In contrary, the new area (both condominium and Kebele houses) accessing all these benefits is too difficult. Kebele dwellers are always scared and continuing unstable since the substitute kebele houses will be demolished soon. Likewise, condominium dwellers are also facing critical financial constraints to cover the mortgage payment.