Despite economic growth in Ethiopia, poverty rates in Addis Ababa’s inner-city neighbourhoods are increasing, with unemployment rates of thirty-one percent amongst young people. Researchers at The Forum for Social Studies will investigate the relationship between social networks and poverty alleviation among inner-city youth in Addis Ababa. They will draw upon Network Theory which posits that individuals are embedded within webs of relationships that provide access to resources, information, and support and ultimately influence life chances. Researchers will focus on three inner-city neighbourhoods of Addis Ababa with substantial youth populations, high poverty levels and a diverse range of social network structures. They will employ a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative survey data on demographic characteristics, social network composition and poverty-related variables, with qualitative interviews probing the links between social networks and poverty alleviation. Findings will provide insights into the value of targeting issues of household dynamics, community ties, and resource accessibility in programmes designed to improve outcomes for young people.