The contribution of government administration and related services to cities’ GDP (estimated at 9%) is also considerable due to the federal arrangement, decentralization and restructuring of the public administration and social service sectors in major cities. This contribution of government has service provision role and employment opportunity. There are alot of government interventions in different social service to residents in addition to significant roles played by NGOs. 

Migration has also significant contribution to the country’s urban population growth. Prospects for better employment opportunities and social services attract rural migrants to urban areas, whereas the major push factors include scarcity of agricultural land particularly in densely populated regions of the country and deeply entrenched social problems such as early marriage that are still practiced in many rural areas of the country. The proportion of migrants, which was close to 57% in 1994 and had declined to 37% in 2012, is still high.This is main challenge to Hawassa city social services delivery.

Cities like Addis Ababa, Dire Dawa, Adama, Bahir Dar, Mekele and Hawassa host large numbers of urban-based NGOs that are known to operate in larger cities with recognized social problems

To mention few, SOS Children’s Villages began its work in Hawassa in 1985. Today, its social centres here provide a family strengthening programme to members of the local community. The programme aims to help parents develop their capacities in a holistic and sustainable manner, to achieve self-reliance and economic autonomy, and to ensure access to essential services such as health care and education. We assist parents in sending their children to government-run schools, and provide guidance on income-generating activities as well as counselling and psychological support. The social centres also offer day-care, where up to 150 children are looked after, fed, and taught simple literacy and numeracy skills while their parents are at work. The overarching aim of these services is to support families, and the community as a whole, so that children can be protected and cared for and will not be abandoned.

Medical centre here is also open to the community and serves approximately 8,000 patients each year. Amongst others, it provides the following services: consultation and treatment, minor surgery, vaccination, family planning services, ante/post natal care, voluntary HIV testing, and health education. For children from the region who are no longer able to live with their parents, 15 SOS families can provide a loving home for up to 150 children. In each family, the children live with their brothers and sisters, affectionately cared for by their SOS mother.

In 2011, the following cities had higher poverty severity indexes, i.e., Dire Dawa, 3.3%, Hawassa, 2.8%, and Gondar, 2.8% (Figure 5.8). Between 2005 and 2011; there was considerable decline in poverty severity in all major cities, except Dire Dawa and Hawassa, where poverty severity index increased by 83.3% and 33.3%, respectively.

The safety of buildings is becoming an issue particularly in the bigger urban centres given the increasing importance of multi-storey residential, office and mixed use buildings. Among the SECR cities, Semera, Dessie, Kombolcha, Bishoftu, Adama, Hawassa, Shashemane, Dilla, Hossana, Wollaita Sodo, Arba Minch and Adigrat should take extra precautions as they are found in Zone 4 of the Ethiopian Rift Valley that is prone to seismic hazards.

Despite their consideration in city-wide plans, most city administrations in Ethiopia do not prioritize the development of public green spaces, and it is increasingly owners of private recreational facilities who are active in developing “commercial parks” to entertain the demand for open/ green spaces to be used for social gatherings such as weddings. Cities such as Addis Ababa, Hawassa and Bishoftu encourage MSEs to reclaim derelict land and establish recreational businesses serving as public meeting places.

However, unlike the general situation in other lakeside towns in Ethiopia (Hawassa and Bishoftu) where the general public’s access to the water bodies is almost blocked by new hotel and real estate related investments, the Bahir Dar City Administration has built a paved walkway (2.5 m2 width and 7 km length) along the lakeshore with the intention of facilitating access to the lake. Hawassa City Administration should consider more public access that is developed and has more recreational values.

It is common to see police officers in most parts of the city, and traffic police officers on main squares of the city. There are also police stations in every sub cities of Hawassa and other security officers. In case you find difficulties in security or other cases you can contact them with the addresses you can find from our online business directory. 

Sources: www.sos-childrensvillages.org , Ethiopian Cities Report 2015:Ministry of Urban Development, Housing and Construction (MUDHCo) & Ethiopian Civil Service University (ECSU), Socio Economic Profile of Hawassa 2007 E.C