Leveraging social networks for poverty reduction: Insights from inner-city youth in Addis Ababa

Addis Ababa’s rapid urban growth has not translated into equal opportunity. Poverty rates rose from 17.8% in 2016 to 24% in 2022 (UNDP, 2022), with youth unemployment at 31.7%, young women are most affected (CSA, 2020). Inner‑city youth face limited access to education, training, and financial services, leaving them reliant on informal networks for jobs.

This study uses a network analysis approach to reveal how household ties, community connections, and institutional linkages shape employment outcomes. By highlighting the role of social capital alongside economic factors, it offers new insights into pathways out of poverty and informs strategies to empower youth in Ethiopia’s rapidly urbanising cities.

Available at: https://doi.org/10.55158/DEEPCFWP19