Revisiting slums, revealing responses: urban upgrading in tenant-dominated inner-city settlements, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

This study examines the phenomenon of urban upgrading in tenant-dominated non-planned inner-city settlements of the city of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. It focuses on tenants’ responses and spatial transformations. The phenomenon is investigated through the analysis of case studies located in three localities.

The study found neither the theories that assert the non-responsiveness of tenants nor the ones that emphasise the sole role of tenure security explain the reality and the needs of tenant-dominated settlements. The relationship among improved property rights, legal frameworks and grassroots organisations are rather found to be central in both stimulating tenants’ responses and curbing uncontrolled spatial transformations. The advantages of social network, connected to indigenous voluntary associations, are also found to be very instrumental in motivating and mobilising tenants.

The study also found that exclusion-right, in addition to the often emphasised use and transaction rights of housing, as an important element, not only in unleashing the resources of low-income dwellers, but also in engaging them in upgrading processes. Equally as important was the finding that housing rights/values are manipulated to both avoid gentrification and sustain upgrading processes. Upgrading paradoxes, related to both uncontrolled spatial transformations and the need of the individual and the collective, are revealed and their possible remedy is indicated.

The study has shown that the kebele housing is a variant of the commonly known public housing with some of its own unique characteristics. It also highlighted that the size of the kebele housing-dominated inner-city settlements is rather large, and that they are not pockets within non-slum areas. Despite these, however, the current government-driven upgrading practices in Addis Ababa are either excluding the upgrading of inner-city houses (majority, kebele houses) or are providing blanket solutions, such as GHP’s condominium housing. Similarly, the NGO-initiated upgrading interventions have been limited in scope for the lack of clarity regarding which area is earmarked for what kind of intervention, and whether the improvement of houses is included. Therefore, classification of settlements, in consultation with all concerned actors, that appreciates both the magnitude and the diversity of non-planned settlements, is greatly needed.