The urban poor at a crossroads: exploring speculative urbanisation dynamics in Addis Ababa’s social housing programme

Sammanfattning: This thesis reviews the impact and relevance of the Integrated Housing Development Programme (IHDP) on the economic and social wellbeing of the urban poor in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. By situating the programme’s performance from the perspective of its residents and the urban poor in speculative urbanisation theory, the study investigates the urban transformation dynamics it has created. The research is guided by the following questions: how have the urban poor been impacted by the Integrated Housing Development Programme in Addis Ababa? What is the role of the programme in urban transformation dynamics since 2010? The thesis employs qualitative research methods including semi-structured and structured interviews as well as the participant observation methodology. The findings suggest that the programme has widened the economic and social inequality among the urbanites and created speculative urbanisation dynamics by enabling the vicious cycle of spatial injustice, relocation/dislocation and gentrification.