Economic Innovation of Transnational Migrants and Refugees in Addis Ababa

Case studies based on Ethiopian Diaspora, on Somali, Eritrean and Syrian Businesses

Gülcan Akkaya, Chalachew Getahun Desta, Samuel Tefera Alemu, Lorenzo Fontana, Walter Schmid

Ethiopia lies in the Horn of Africa, surrounded by political tension and conflict. The most populated land in the region is home to millions of refugees and migrants while also exporting a large number of workers. Addis Ababa is the capital of this multi-ethnic, civil-war stricken country and has developed into a central migration hub for East Africa.
How do these people manage to make a living and build an existence in a city that itself is plagued by high unemployment, overburdened infrastructure and a lack of assistance. What strategies do they follow to escape such sheer hardship and, if necessary, to organize an onward journey?
As this study shows, the refugees’ survival is made possible by economic innovation, entrepreneurial spirit and an impressive network which mobilizes resources and generates work opportunities. In addition to the support provided by the Diaspora, refugees and migrants themselves represent an underestimated, transformative potential for the city’s development.
Extensive quantitative data combined with impressive case studies is what makes this Study an exceptional scientific contribution that links macroeconomic facts with individual life stories.

Auteur･e･s / éditeur･e･s

Gülcan Akkaya, Dr., is a lecturer and researcher at the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts. She teaches and researches on topics of migration, asylum, human rights, racism.

Chalachew Getahun Desta, Dr., is associate professor at Center for Population Studies of Addis Ababa University. He is engaged in teaching and research on topics including household wellbeing, time allocation, women empowerment, informal employment and migration.

Samuel Tefera Alemu (PhD) is an Assistant Professor and Asian Desk Coordinator at the Center for African and Asian Studies in Addis Ababa University. He has expertise in policy oriented trans-regional research on human and livestock mobility, social protection, one health and resilience building in the Horn of Africa.

Lorenzo Fontana is an italian architect, based in Ethiopia, collaborating with different research institutions (both Swiss and Ethiopian) and development actors (IOM, international NGOs).

Prof. Dr. Walter Schmid, former director of the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts. Senior expert on migration, social policy and management of social organisations.