20^th International Conference of Ethiopian Studies (ICES20)
Mekelle University, Ethiopia

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THE CONDOMINIUM HOUSING PROGRAMME IN ETHIOPIA: A RESEARCH RECONNAISSANCE TO ITS NEIGHBORHOOD SOCIAL CAPITAL IMPLICATIONS [Abstract ID: 0702-03]

HONE Mandefro, School of Sociology and Social Work, University of Gondar, Visiting Researcher, McGill University, Montreal, Canad
MESFIN Setargie, Department of Sociology, Debre Berhan University
SOLOMON Abrha, School of Sociology and Social Work, University of Gondar, GEBEYEHU Begashaw, Department of Psychology, University of Gonda

New low-cost condominium neighborhoods have flourished in Addis Ababa and other major cities of Ethiopia in the last decade as a strategy to address the severe housing shortage. Because these neighborhoods are very densely populated, high story, and gated, compared to typical neighborhoods in Ethiopia, there is a perception that residents alike in these condominium neighborhoods possess low social capital. However, theoretical and empirical evidence elsewhere shows that there is variation among demographic and socioeconomic groups of residents’ interims of their stock of social capital in their neighborhood. To test if this indeed is true in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, we compared the social capital of different socio-demographic and socioeconomic groups. We found that among the seven variables considered (gender, marital status and having children, level of education and level of income. tenure status and length of stay in the neighborhood) only three (having children, being house owner and length of stay) were found to be significantly correlated each with one dimension of neighborhood social capital. Policy implications of the findings in terms of enhancing social capital in condominium neighborhoods are discussed.