Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Poor – Ethiopia'

In the face of high population growth and declining natural resource base, tackling rural poverty necessitates an increase in overall factor productivity or a rise in the market rate of return of assets possessed by the poor. Towards achieving these objectives, the role of spatial integration of markets and the efficiency with which these markets operate are considerably important, as these factors shape the structure of incentives and the level of opportunities open to the rural poor. As a result, factors that hinder the spatial integration of markets and their efficient operation will have significant impact on rural poverty. In Ethiopia markets are often segmented mainly due to high transport cost associated with poor road infrastructure. The existing poor quality and low road density are expected to contribute to rural poverty through limiting the size of the market, increasing market risk (price volatility), widening the spatial prices gaps, reducing the market return to land and labour, inflating the profitability of new technologies and reducing the incentive to produce for market. This research endeavours to empirically substantiate if there is a robust link between farm income and the quality of road infrastructure farm households have access to as well as the pathways through which the effects of road on rural income are felt. The empirical result consistently showed that improving rural road access will have significant impact on rural income in general and the income of the poor in particular. The mechanisms by which road boosts rural income and reduce poverty are also found to work through narrowing down spatial price gaps, promoting technology adoption, boosting resource allocation efficiency and raising the market return to land and labour. The result also showed that the rural poor benefits from road induced income growth.

This thesis contributes to the literature on making agricultural markets work for the poor, with specific reference to Ethiopia. It contains three substantive chapters, which may be read independently. The chapters use primary surveys with traders conducted in 2002 (chapters 2 and 3) and 2007 (all the chapters).Chapter 1 investigates Ethiopian traders’ decision on whether and how much to use brokers. Results shine light on how the Ethiopia Commodity Exchange (ECX), which recently formalized the brokerage functions, could be most beneficial for the functioning of agricultural markets. We show that the ECX could consider introducing new food crops in the trading system, offering warehouse receipt financing to its clients, and spreading the network of its warehouses throughout the country. Chapter 2 inquires whether the focus on technological and institutional upgrading is sufficient to make Ethiopian agricultural markets more efficient and if the existence of many small intermediaries causes market inefficiency. Findings suggest that, when transporters are used, transport costs could be reduced by avoiding trans-shipment, and reducing the number of times the transporter has to stop to allow for cargo loading and off-loading. No evidence is found for increasing returns to transaction size. Chapter 3 conceptualizes the notion of market integration as ‘tradability’ and analyses what determines the likelihood of market diversification among Ethiopian traders. The variables that are found to significantly impact on this probability are location (which is correlated with access to asphalt roads), availability of market information, traders’ educational level, access to commercial finance and storage capacity. Results indicate that market fundamentals affected the likelihood of market diversification more in 2007, when prices were rapidly surging, than in 2001 when prices were decreasing. The findings of this thesis support the ‘getting markets right’ school, in that incentives, infrastructure and institutions are essential for market development, and long-distance coordination of market exchange can be achieved through public-private cooperation.

The objective of the research was to assess the trends and forms of community participation to poverty alleviation in Bahir Dar town. The field study was limited to two projects, micro and small scale enterprise activities and credit service, however the finding and recommendation can be applied to all projects aimed to poverty alleviation and community self sustaining projects. In order to achieve the research objectives, a review of relevant literature was done. It began by reviewing definitions and concepts of poverty. The literature also over reviewed the importance of community participation to poverty alleviation efforts of a country and reviews the Ethiopian poverty reduction process. The literature further highlighted the role of community participation in achieving development goals. The data collection was done by means of focus group discussions complimented by face-to-face interviews. The data collected were analyzed thematically with the use of narrative summary and categorization in respect to the objective of the study. The findings of the study showed that there is low participation of community and therefore creating more opportunities for community participation activity and detailed study in the area is recommended.

Despite the increasing policy and academic attention given to child poverty in recent years, little is known about children’s perspectives and their experiences of risk, coping and resilience in the context of poverty. The existing child poverty literature is dominated by studies from economics and developmental psychology, which for the most part overlook not only the perspectives of children in poverty but also their use of coping strategies and experiences of resilience. Much can be inferred, however, from studies of the lives of children in developing countries in terms of the active role poor children play in their lives and their families’ lives. Additionally, a small but growing number of qualitative child poverty studies in Europe and North America (e.g. Ridge, 2002) have highlighted the resourcefulness and optimism of many children living in poverty. They have shown the merit of prioritizing children’s perspectives and experiences or minimally setting them alongside the perspectives of adults in order to understand their lives and concerns fully. This thesis builds on these studies by exploring the lives of children living in poverty that go beyond their material disadvantage or survival. It highlights the priorities, concerns and responses of children living in a context different from the one covered by most of these studies. It also explores the theoretical concepts of coping and resilience to establish whether these constructs can be reliably applied in a society that is very different from the one in which they were developed. The study focuses on Ethiopia, one of the poorest countries in the world. It addresses the perspectives and experiences of twenty-six children (11 girls and 15 boys) between the ages of 11 and 14 in Kolfe area, one of the poorest neighbourhoods in Addis Ababa. It employs qualitative research methods such as semi-structured individual interviews, daily diaries, drawings and timelines with the children. The key finding of the study is that the majority of these children perceive that relationships that are characterized by conflict are more damaging than material poverty. This suggests that research and interventions focusing on poverty not only undermine children’s positive experiences and agency but also obscure their real priorities and concerns. The children’s accounts further suggest that the theoretical concepts of “coping” and “resilience” are applicable to Ethiopian children, although as in other contexts how the children understand and experience them is influenced by the culture and environment in which they live.

Alors qu’une majorité de travaux se concentre sur les mécanismes de contrôle ainsi que l’éthique autour des pratiques managériales, peu d’études empiriques s’intéressent à l’apparition, l’efficacité ou l’adéquation de ces mécanismes dans le contexte dans lequel ils s’appliquent. Nous avons mené notre étude sur le cas particulier du secteur du cuir en Éthiopie afin de comprendre comment naissent les mécanismes de gouvernance et leur influence dans la performance des entreprises. La thèse a donc pour objectif la mise en évidence et l’analyse des mécanismes de gouvernance sur un territoire spécifique en se concentrant sur les employés. Si les employés sont une partie prenante de l’entreprise, alors leur prise en compte dans les mécanismes de gouvernance doit influer sur la performance de l’entreprise. Se posent alors les problèmes de qualification de la performance, des modalités de cette prise en compte et de l’évaluation de ses effets, ainsi que leur inclusion dans un contexte culturel conçu dans sa profondeur historique<br>While a majority of the work focuses on the control mechanisms and the ethics around management practices, few empirical studies focus on the emergence, effectiveness or appropriateness of these mechanisms in the context in which they apply. We conducted our study on the specific case of the leather sector in Ethiopia to understand how governance mechanisms are born and what their influence on business performance is. The thesis objective is thus the identification and analysis of governance mechanisms in a specific territory by focusing on employees. If employees are an integral part of the business, their inclusion in the governance mechanisms should influence the company's performance. This raises the issue on how to qualify performance, the terms of employees’ consideration, the evaluation of its effects and their inclusion in a cultural context conceived in its historical depth

Les produits solides de l'altération de la croûte continentale, et donc le matériel sédimentaire transporté par les fleuves, s'étalent sur un large spectre de taille de grains, de minéralogie et de chimie. Il en résulte un tri granulométrique des sédiments dans le fleuve. Les principaux affluents du bassin de l'Amazone, le plus grand fleuve du monde, ont été échantillonnés à plusieurs profondeurs d'eau et à différentes positions latérales. Concernant la phase dissoute, des hétérogénéités latérales de concentration en éléments majeurs et en composition isotopique du strontium, couplées à des arguments hydrodynamiques sur le mélange turbulent, suggèrent que la plupart des grands fleuves ne sont pas bien mélangés. La concentration en matières en suspension, ainsi que les compositions chimique et isotopique (strontium et néodyme) de la phase particulaire évoluent de façon importante avec la profondeur. Une nouvelle classification des éléments chimiques est établie au regard de leur comportement vis-à-vis du tri granulométrique et de l'altération. La comparaison de la chimie des sédiments de l'Amazone, sur toute la gamme de taille de grains, entre la sortie de la chaîne andine et l'embouchure, suggère des intensités d'altération des silicates relativement faibles durant le transport des sédiments à travers la plaine d'inondation. Enfin, les analyses de contenu en carbone organique particulaire et de son activité en carbone 14, montrent que l'oxydation du carbone fossile au cours du transport sédimentaire représente une source significative de CO2 atmosphérique, comparable avec l'altération des silicates à l'échelle du bassin<br>Rivers transport the residual products of continental weathering, that display a large range of grain size, mineralogical and chemical compositions. These grains are sorted within the river channel during transport to the ocean. The Amazon Basin main tributaries have been sampled along depth-profiles, at various lateral positions. In the dissolved phase, lateral heterogeneities of major species and strontium isotopic composition, along with constraints on turbulent mixing, suggest that most large rivers are not well-mixed with respect to their different tributaries. At all sites, suspended matter concentration significantly increases with depth. Chemical and isotopic compositions of suspended matter also vary greatly with depth. A new classification of chemical elements, following their behaviour with respect to sorting and weathering, is proposed. Comparison of the chemical compositon, along the whole grain size range, of Amazon sediments between the outlet of the Andes and the river mouths, suggests relatively low weathering intensities during transfer of sediments through the floodplain. Finally, using organic carbon content and 14C activity measurements, we demonstrate that fossil organic carbon oxidation during transfer through the floodplain results in a significant input of CO2 in the atmosphere, nearly countering silicate weathering at the basin scale

Le rapport indique que la capacité et la compétitivité des entrepreneurs locaux est l'un des principaux défis de l'industrie éthiopienne de la construction. Cependant, il n'existe aucune étude antérieure qui appuie ces récits et qui tente de déterminer les aspects de la compétence qui font défaut à ces entrepreneurs. Consciente de cette lacune, cette étude vise à mener une recherche sur la compréhension de la compétence et de la compétitivité des entrepreneurs et de leurs mécanismes d'amélioration. La recherche applique une méthode de recherche mixte qui implique une discussion en groupe de discussion et la méthode Fuzzy DEMATEL pour atteindre ses objectifs. La recherche a montré que sur les 52 éléments lean identifiés dans la littérature, 15 sont les plus importants pour améliorer les six mesures de compétences et sur ces six mesures, la capacité financière, les ressources humaines et la capacité organisationnelle et technique sont les pratiques les plus critiques pour améliorer la compétence et la compétitivité globales des entrepreneurs autochtones. Les résultats de cette recherche apportent des contributions pratiques, académiques et méthodologiques à l'évolution des connaissances actuelles dans le domaine de la construction lean et de la gestion organisationnelle, en particulier dans le contexte des pays en cours de développement<br>Report indicates that indigenous contractor’s capability and competitiveness is one of the main challenges in Ethiopian construction industry. However, there is no previous study that support these narratives and tries to investigate which aspects of capability do these contractors are lacking. Realizing this gap, the research has attempted to assesses capability of indigenous contractors with respect to six capability measures and it develop a conceptual model that integrates Lean with organizational capability as well as competitiveness. The research applies a mixed method of research which involves a focus group discussion and Fuzzy DEMATEL method to achieve its objectives. Of the 52 lean elements identified from literatures, the research identifies 15 most important lean elements to improve the six capability measures. The research further investigated that financial capability, human resources and organizational capability and technical capability as a means of improvement for overall capability &amp; competitiveness of indigenous contractors in Ethiopia. The research outcome can be used for developing appropriate policies and regulation that helps to improve capability and competitiveness

Dans la seconde moitié du XIXe siècle, l’Éthiopie luttait farouchement pour conserver son indépendance, tout en agrandissant considérablement son territoire. Une région de montagnes et de prairies, jusqu’alors aux marges méridionales de l’espace national, se retrouva au centre du pays défini par de nouvelles frontières. C’est là qu’est née Addis Abäba vers 1886, d’abord simple "kätäma" (camp royal) et base logistique pour les conquêtes militaires, avant de devenir un « carrefour du monde ».L’objectif de cette thèse est une mise en lumière du rôle moteur, exercé par la volonté de reconnaissance de la souveraineté nationale, dans le processus particulier de fondation et de pérennisation de la capitale éthiopienne, ainsi que dans son développement au cours du XXe siècle. Les grandes phases de croissance d’Addis Abäba ne peuvent être comprises qu’à l’aune du contexte international, alors que la souveraineté et l’indépendance éthiopiennes étaient menacées. Dans ces moments particuliers, le pouvoir a mis la ville en scène, en la développant et en la dotant d’un patrimoine architectural et monumental. Pour cela, il puisa dans le temps long de l’histoire éthiopienne, dans l’attachement à la chrétienté éthiopienne — la religion "Täwahǝdo" — et dans le mythe national du "Kǝbrä Nägäst". Les règnes et régimes successifs ont adopté une même rhétorique urbaine et bâtisseuse, jusqu’au XXIe siècle<br>While fiercely struggling for its independence during the second half of the 19th century, Ethiopia extended considerably its territory. A region of meadows and mountains, at the southern march, became the centre of the country in its new borders. There, in 1886, what was first founded as a garrison camp for its strategic position became Addis Abäba, soon the new capital at the crossroads of the world.This thesis aims to highlight the part played by the national sovereignty and its recognition in the particular process of the Ethiopian capital foundation and its perpetuation, as well as its development during the 20th century. The main growing phases of Addis Abäba might only be understood in terms of its international context whilst Ethiopian sovereignty and independence were jeopardized. During those particular times, the rulers used Addis Abäba as a stage for its performance, expanding the city and provided it with architectural and monumental heritage. For this, they drew in the country’s long-time history, in the strong commitment to the Ethiopian Christianity – the "Täwahǝdo" – and into the "Kǝbrä Nägäst" the national myth. The successive systems and reigns until the 21st century have adopted the same urban and building response

Pourquoi et comment tenir compte dans la classe de compétences plurilingues et pluriculturelles d'élèves apprenant en français dans un contexte social plurilingue? L'exolinguisme favorise l'émergence de pratiques sociolangagières plurilingues, en particulier pour des élèves adolescents aux appartenances culturelles multiples. C'est le cas au Lycée franco-éthiopien à Addis-Abeba, qui scolarise environ 64 % d'élèves éthiopiens, 26 % d'élèves africains francophones et 10 % d'élèves français. Dans un milieu de contact de langues et de cultures, l'alternance a un réel prestige car elle permet de légitimer l'existence d'appartenances identitaires multiples et mouvantes. Une approche ethno-sociolinguistique de notre terrain fait émerger des liens complexes entre le macro-contexte (en Ethiopie les langues sont des attributs ethniques), le méso-contexte (les règles d'interactions plurilingues sont prestigieuses dans la communauté linguistique des élèves) et le microcontexte (parce qu'elle propose un autre rapport aux normes langagières, l'interaction didactique envisagée sur un mode unilingue est aussi un lieu de construction identitaire). En croisant les résultats d'une étude qualitative de questionnaires sociolinguistiques, d'entretiens semi-directifs, d'observations ethnographiques et d'analyse de productions scolaires, nous différencions une posture plurilingue d'une compétence plurilingue et pluriculturelle. Cette dernière permet de passer d'un contexte d'interactions sociales plurinormatives à un contexte d'interaction didactique visant à l'homogénéité linguistique. Pour cela, l'élève doit appréhender la langue-culture qu'est le français comme un objet d'apprentissage aux normes ancrées dans un prestige accordé à la forme, au sens et aux référents socioculturels des discours. Pour permettre aux élèves de s'approprier la langue de scolarisation comme une langue-culture ayant un fonctionnement légitime spécifique, l'enseignant est appelé à développer une compétence interculturelle, nécessaire pour envisager le langage comme une pratique culturelle et sociale.

The main purpose of this study is not only to prove the impact of loan interest rates on the poor in the case of Tigray, Northern Ethiopia but also to recommend improvements to address the negative effects of interest rates that could benefit both the borrowers and the lenders. Combinations of quantitative and qualitative analytical tools were used; the data were collected through administration of a questionnaire to a sample of 471 respondents from three regulated MCIs, one cooperative enterprise, and one unregulated NGO. Results were analysed by using SPSS software. A multi-dimensional approach with respect to demand for credit, return on loan, loan repayment, savings, indebtedness, multiple loans, graduation process, and wellbeing was used and results were triangulated to obtain a full picture. The study has concluded that the interest rate in general, primarily charged by DECSI, eroded the envisaged profits that poor borrowers expected to gain. This caused diversified negative impacts on the poor, those who were entrusted to MCIs. It thus brings into question the efficacy of the social responsibility of MCIs. From a simple analysis, it is found that there is a trade-off between servicing the poor with a low loan cost and securing MCIs operational self-sufficiency. Furthermore, the poor are not only sensitive to the loan interest rate but also to the saving interest rate. Therefore, not only access but also the cost of credit and savings matters to the poor. Moreover, the study identified a positive relationship between the financial capacity of MCIs and lending interest rates. Institutions with higher profitability tend to offer lower interest rates on micro loans but not when commercialization is an issue. The study grasped that socially oriented and responsible MCIs can reach the poorest without compromising financial performances, a “win-win proposition”. Finally, the study offers comprehensive recommendations on policy and practice that address potential changes to how MCIs redesign their loan and savings interest rate. The recommendations also address how MCIs develop graduation processes and self-revolving credit scheme frameworks that strengthen pro-poor microcredit modality. Additionally, the study provides a way forward in the design of future microcredit that could help MCIs deliver on their core social mandate.<br>Development Studies<br>D. Litt. et Phil (Development Studies)

According to the 2005 Ethiopian Demographic Health Survey, HIV prevalence in Gambella region where Fugnido refugee camp is located is 6%, which is the highest prevalence data recorded in the country. Similarly, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Health Information System (HIS) demonstrates that Fugnido has the highest HIV prevalence compared to other refugee camps in Ethiopia and furthermore shows variation in prevalence among the two main ethnic groups in the camp, namely Agnuak and Nuer (about 8.5% and 2.3% respectively). The study seeks to investigate why a significant difference exists in the number of people with known HIV positive status among the Agnuak community compared to the Nuer community in the Fugnido refugee camp in Ethiopia. It does this by investigating factors that are presumed to explain HIV high risk-behaviour and vulnerability. This was a cross-sectional study of Agnuak and Nuer tribes living at the Fugnido refugee camp. The sampled population involved men and women refugees from the ages of 15 to 49 years. The study used a mixed method approach or methodological triangulation. Cluster sampling technique was used for the quantitative data collection. The sample size was 831 refugees (439 Agnuak and 390 Nuer). Seven (7) Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and 3 Key Informant (KI) interviews was used for the qualitative data collection. Findings show that the Agnuak were almost 4 times (OR=3.8, 95% CI [1.9-7.4] p < 0.05) more likely to practice risky behaviour compared to 0.3 times (OR=0.3, 95% CI [0.1- 0.9] p < 0.05) likelihood among the Nuer refugees. Factors associated with differences in risky behaviour for both Agnuak and Nuer included, inter alia, primary education as the highest level of education attained, 50% among the Agnuak (OR=0.5, 95% CI [0.3-0.8] p < 0.05), compared to Nuer community’s 30% (OR=0.3, 95% CI [0.2-0.6] p < 0.05). Access to HIV and voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) services was lower for the Agnuak (OR=1.8, 95% CI [1.1-2.9] p < 0.05) compared to the Nuer (OR=2.9, 95% CI [1.6-5.1] p < 0.05). Unlike the Nuer refugees, the Agnuak refugees who had experienced forced sex (OR=7.3, 95% CI [2.9-18.8] p < 0.05) and had a positive attitude (lack of or reduced stigma) towards HIV (OR=2.1, 95% CI [1.3-3.7] p < 0.05) were more positively associated with risky 6 behaviour (than the Nuer). The Nuer had no factor associated with risky behaviour that was different from that of the Agnuak. The study revealed more Agnuak refugees than Nuer refugees had been engaged in risky sexual behaviour by having multiple sex partners and being involved in transactional sex. The Nuer was more closed and reserved to having sexual relations outside of their group than the Agnuak were which contributed to their relatively lower HIV prevalence. Furthermore, there was very low condom use among the Nuer community compared to the Agnuak community, which was based on differential attitudes between the two communities concerning trust of partner and monogamous relations. The study findings recommend that humanitarian workers and community partners need to collaborate to develop congruent HIV interventions that go beyond traditional strategies of distributing condoms and focus on correct and consistent use of condoms in the camp. Humanitarian and community workers’ understanding the socioeconomic context of the communities and the influence of cultural and other factors, including behaviour with intervention strategies,could also curb the epidemic.<br>Sociology<br>M.A. (Sociology)

Background: Availing equitable and affordable health services for citizens is becoming a problem for governments of developing countries. In Ethiopia, the government has been implementing fee waiver scheme since 1998 to advance the health access by the poor, though it is still a crucial challenge of the health sector. Purpose: The intent of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of fee waiver scheme in improving access to health by the poor in Addis Ababa and to propose implementation framework to improve its outcome. Method: This study employed qualitative research approach to evaluate the program effectiveness and to propose implementation framework in two phases. Exploratory and descriptive case study designs, and Delphi techniques were utilized to evaluate the scheme’s effectiveness and to validate the proposed implementation framework. The researcher employed purposive and convenience sampling methods to sample the study populations, and used Atlas ti 7.5 software to analyze the findings. Result: This study revealed that the commencement of the scheme has benefited considerable poor population in the city. However, its effectiveness in terms of addressing the needy population, services coverage and protecting the poor from financial hardship is not yet achieved. Poor health facilities capacity, poor program management and lack of comprehensive monitoring and accountability system were found major factors that affected its success. As a result, the researcher proposed an implementation framework with the aim of addressing these problems. Conclusion: Achieving Universal Health Coverage without addressing the indigents’ health need is impossible. Lack of comprehensive health services, in adequate population coverage and poor financial protection were among the major findings. Hence, prior attentions should be given to equip health facilities with necessary infrastructures and ensure the inclusion of all needy populations through effective monitoring, governance and leadership mechanisms to improve its intended outcomes. If utilized properly, the findings and the implementation framework of this study will serve as valuable resources for immediate decisions and directions by the policy makers<br>Health Studies<br>D. Litt. et Phil. (Health Studies)

This study examines rural household food security and its determinants in drought-prone Amhara Region of Ethiopia by focusing on Lay Gaint district as a case study site. A range of factors from physical environmental circumstances to policy and institutions-related issues determine households‟ vulnerability to food insecurity and livelihood outcomes. The survey results showed that the majority (74%) of the sampled households experienced food insecurity. The situation was worse among female-headed households such that 86% of them were food insecure. The study revealed that, despite the low level of productivity related to local environmental constraints, rural livelihoods remain undiversified with small scale rain-fed agriculture to provide the primary source of livelihood for the large majority of households (~93% of respondents). Only about 25% of the respondents participated in some form of non-farm or off-farm activities, but with only little contribution to their total annual incomes. Food insecurity is a chronic problem in that, on average, households in the study area consume from own production for only about six months. The study found out that the majority of households (about 80%) perceived annual rainfall to be inadequate to support the growing of crops and grazing of animals. The main adaptive strategies employed by the majority of households included diversifying livestock kept, planting trees and diversifying crops. The study revealed that incidence, depth and severity of food insecurity of the food insecure households showed that Woina-Dega and Kolla agro-ecologies are prone to vulnerability to food insecurity. This suggests that development interventions that are geographically differentiated; and build household assets will improve household food security in the study area, and in other similar environments in the country.<br>Geography<br>D.Phil.

With an increasing rate of urbanisation in East Africa, and with the highest prevalence rate of undernourished population than any region in the developing world, the issue of food access insecurity in urban areas has received considerable attention. While there are noticeable differences between big, medium- and small-sized towns, the variation in the household’s response to food access insecurity across urban hierarchies remains largely unexplored. This study aimed to investigate the social, economic and demographic factors in coping with food access insecurity among households in urban slum areas of Ethiopia. The study used both secondary and primary data sources. The national surveys of household consumption and expenditure survey and welfare monitoring surveys of 2004/5, 2010/11, and 2015/16 was used to analyse the food security situation in Ethiopia across time and urban hierarchies. Primary data of 500 households and three focus group discussions were conducted from slum areas of Addis Ababa, Hawassa, and Sheki representing a big city, medium- and small-sized town, respectively. The household survey data were subjected to descriptive statistical analysis and a standard regression model to investigate the relationship between factors such as household structure and composition, economic resources, social protection programmes and projects, and urban-rural linkages with coping with food access insecurity across urban hierarchies. A global model and three site-specific regression models were constructed. Descriptive results from both the primary and the secondary data sources have revealed that the proportion of the households affected by food shortage varies across the urban hierarchy that food insecurity was highest in the small-sized town as compared with the medium-sized town and the big city. The quality of food consumed was consistently low among female-headed households regardless of their socio-economic characteristics when compared with male-headed households. The result of the regression analysis for the global model has shown that economic resources (asset and source of income) predict nearly half of the variability in coping with food access insecurity. Household structure and composition such as gender and education of the head of the household, family structure (nuclear/extended), and the ratio of young children in the household predict a quarter of the variability in coping. Social protection programs and services predict one-tenth; the remaining variability in coping is explained by the combined effect of all the factors involved. The significance of these factors in predicting coping with food access insecurity, however, varies across the urban hierarchies. The contribution of economic factors in predicting coping is the highest at the big city (Addis Ababa); household structure and composition took the leading role in predicting coping at the small-sized town (Sheki); the significant factors in predicting coping at the mediumsized town (Hawassa) was the combined effect of all the factors involved. Household characteristics such as female headship, a higher ratio of young children, low education of the household head, lack of access to the financial loan, asset and income poverty, and weak linkages with kin structure at rural areas increase vulnerability to food insecurity and put households under stress to cope with food access insecurity. The study results show that the traditional urban-rural dichotomy may not suffice to portray the degree of food insecurity, as well as the mechanisms how food insecure households strive to cope with food access insecurity, which varies across the continuum of urban hierarchies. Those who wish to support food insecurity challenges need to be sensitive to the variability of factors in coping with food access insecurity across urban hierarchies. During policy, design and program implementation policymakers and international partners need to consider that the needs and coping mechanisms of urban households vary across urban hierarchies besides the other social, economic and demographic variables.<br>Development Studies<br>Ph. D. (Development Studies)

Obstructed labour contributes significantly to the morbidity and mortality among both mothers and babies in Ethiopia nationwide, and also in the West-Wollega region where this study was conducted. The researcher used a retrospective hospital based review of maternity files to quantify the problem of obstructed labour in the selected hospital. The findings revealed that maternal and perinatal mortality due to obstructed labour amounted to 1.4% and 7.5% respectively. Most of these complications could be prevented by proper antenatal care and careful attentive monitoring during delivery with proper use of the partogram which will indicate the occurrence of complications in good time when successful and life saving interventions are still available. The findings clearly show that poor documentation in general and very sporadic usage of the partogram in particular contributes significantly to the complications for mother and child. Re-introduction of proper documentation and careful use of the partogram are advocated<br>Health Studies<br>M.A. (Public Health)

This research explores the perception and practice of participatory communication for development. To this end, the study focuses on a leading local Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) named Organisation for Rehabilitation and Development in Amhara (ORDA), Ethiopia. This qualitative case study was based on the participatory development communication model which has been assumed to bring about sustainable socio-economic change of a country (Melkote & Steeves, 2001; Mefalopulos, 2008; Servaes, 2008). The data were collected using in-depth interviews, Focus Group Discussion (FGD), document analysis and field observation. The collected data were organised and analysed in the form of content and thematic analysis. The results revealed economic oriented and top down approach to development communication as the dominant conceptions, and majority of the research participants perceived the concept ‘participation’ as mere contributions of labour and materials which are not real participation, but co-option. Only a few of the management members of ORDA conceptualized the idea of ‘participation’ as an empowerment process in which the organisation’s official document is also stated. Besides, the results showed no genuine participation of the local community in ORDA’s development process. Generally, these results could lead us to conclude that participatory communication was the missing link in the development process. That is, communication was perceived as a transmission of development information and an image building activity, not a process of empowerment. The major communications practices of ORDA were also best described as one-way top down which could reveal the legacy of modernisation and dependency theories of the development literature. The study further indicated pressing factors such as individual, organisational and environmental related affecting the implementation of ORDA’s participatory development communication. The results of study further indicated that participatory development communication was not used a means of liberation from the chain of poverty, dependency syndrome and other underdevelopment problems which deeply persist in the region. Based on the findings, the study commends the mainstreaming of participatory development communication both at the perceptual and practical level for achieving sustainable development in rural Amhara region, Ethiopia.<br>D. Litt. et Phil. (Communication)<br>Communication

Executive summary: last page (unnumbered)<br>The Sustainable Livelihood framework approach is a comprehensive method for determination of food insecurity and poverty at household level. The objective of this study was to determine the livelihood strategies and the coping mechanisms used by rural households in Abela Lida PA, Shebedino district, Southern Ethiopia. This study used both qualitative and quantitative methods to estimate the contribution of different resources to total food access and cash income, detailing expenditure patterns, asset holdings and capacity to cope with shocks. Simple random sampling was used for selecting 72 households for the survey. The data was collected during the hunger season using the checklists designed for livelihood and coping strategies. The study showed only 30% households had all the adults as working members, due to poor work skill, low awareness and lack of job opportunities. The main sources of income are sale of cash crops mainly coffee (55.6%) followed by sale of cash crops plus livestock (18%), labour (12.5%), PSNP (8.3%). The average annual income for the households was found to be birr 4,727.92 (~$293.34) and agriculture is the main livelihood strategy. Awareness and access to basic social services has improved and escalated price of staple foods, has negatively affected poor households and safety net beneficiaries who rely on purchase. Seasonality has also affected agricultural activities, prices and employment opportunities. The increase in fuel price was found to be the main shock followed by coffee price fluctuations and failure in purchasing power of money. About (63%) households faced shortage of food or money to buy food, medical expenses, cooking fuel and school fees.<br>Agriculture, Animal Health and Human Ecology<br>M.A. (Human Ecology)