Ethiopian Journal of Development Research

Size, Distribution, and Practices of Large-Scale Agricultural Investment in Ethiopia: Past and Present

2023-03-06T09:28:45+00:00

The main aim of this study is to systematically analyze the size, distribution, and practices of large-scale agricultural investment (LSAI) in Ethiopia between the 1950s and 2000s. This period coincides with the Ethiopian modern regimes of Emperor Haile Selassie I, Derg, and the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF). This article is based on both primary and secondary data obtained from various sources and complemented by data collected through interviews. Particularly, a systematic review of the pertinent literature was carried out to understand the issue at hand. LSAI was founded and grew in size and number during the Imperial regime, but they were crushed by the successor government, which followed a socialist development model. However, such investment was invigorated by the EPRDF regime, got a new identity, and became an integral component of its economic development policies and strategies. Lowland areas occupied by pastoralists and agropastoralists have been the focus of the three regimes. Even if LSAI is significantly increased in terms of number, size, type, and distribution, especially during the EPRDF era, its benefit to the country and local people has been an area of debate and empirical investigation. Provided that there is a growing pressure on the land and livelihood systems of the local people, serious attention should be given by all development actors to the issue of LSAI.

Land Tenure Reforms and Women’s Land Rights in Plural ‘Legal’ and Cultural Settings: A Comparative Study of the Arsii Oromo and Dorze-Gamo, Ethiopia

2023-03-06T09:50:39+00:00

The question of women’s land rights in the context of multiple legal and cultural settings has been at the center of academic and policy discourses. This paper focuses on the implications of land tenure reforms for women’s land rights in the context of plural legal settings considering Arsii Oromo and Dorze-Gamo cultural contexts. The study relies on ethnographic data gathered from Kokossa district (Oromia Regional State) and Chencha district, Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Regional State. The findings reveal that people in both study sites are aware of state laws and policies that uphold women’s land rights. However, women’s success in benefiting from legal provisions is constrained by cultural factors, among others, taboos, norms of residence, territorialization of lineages and rules of inheritance. Although social structural issues largely limit women’s rights to own land in both cultural settings, the Dorze case seems more complex and detrimental to women’s land rights as the Gamo land tenure system is embedded in the indigenous religion that embraces gome, a complex taboo system. Gome, which embraces taboos related to sex, marriage and descent, effectively limits the right of women to live and work on lands belonging to their patrilineal descent.

Determinants of Rural Households’ Food Insecurity Status and Associated Coping Strategies in Enebsie Sar Mider Woreda, East Gojjam Zone of Amhara National Regional State, Ethiopia

2023-03-07T01:55:07+00:00

This cross-sectional study aims at identifying the determinants of rural households’ food insecurity status and associated coping strategies in Enebsie Sar Mider Woreda. Both probability and non-probability sampling procedures were used to draw the 351 sample households. Food security index was constructed by Consolidated Approach for Reporting Indicators (CARI) console model with four food insecurity indictors i.e., food consumption score, food energy shortfall, food expenditure share and livelihood asset depletion. The determinants of household food insecurity were analyzed using ordered logistic regression model with maximum likelihood estimation method. The result shows that only 0.3% were food secure, 35.3% were marginally food secure, 51% were moderately food insecure and the remaining 13.4% were severely food insecure. The regression result shows that household size, aid and being female household head had significant and positive association with household food insecurity status while farm income, rainfall shock, livestock ownership, educational status of household heads, uses of farm inputs, credit access, oxen ownership, and farmland size had significant and inverse association with food insecurity status of rural households in the study area. To check the severity of food insecurity, households coping experiences were analyzed and most of the sample households were found to practice crises and emergency coping strategies. The study concludes that the problem of food insecurity is pervasive in the study area and recommends provision of family planning, adult education and tailored training for farmers, better access to credit, affordable farm input and appropriate livestock package such as livestock insurance.

Impact of COVID-19 on Violence Against Women and Girls in Addis Ababa

2023-03-07T01:54:29+00:00

There is no doubt that promoting a safer, Gender-Based Violence (GBV) free environment for women and girls gives them greater safety and security, better health and education, and, more control over their life choices. The main objective of the study was to explore the impacts of COVID-19 in relation to violence against women and girls in Addis Ababa. A Cross-sectional study design with concurrent mixed study method was employed. Primary data was collected from 1084 women (15-49 years old) selected using three-stage stratified sampling procedure, 12 key informants and one case study. Data were collected using household survey questionnaire, key informant interview and in-depth interview guides. The odds of gender-based violence was higher by at least 1.6 times among women and girls who had no formal education and primary education compared to those who had secondary and above level of education. Women and girls residing in large household size (6+) had significantly higher odds of gender-based violence compared to those who were living in households with less than six members. Women and girls who were living in rented house were 1.3 times more likely to be exposed to gender-based violence compared to those living in their own house. There should be aggressive and continuous community education through behavioral change communication strategies that will eventually help to significantly promote knowledge and attitude on adverse effects of gender-based violence.

Prevalence and Correlates of Youth Contraceptives Utilization among Students of Selected Higher Education Institutions in Addis Ababa

2023-03-07T01:53:11+00:00

Compared to adults, youth are characterized by significant physiological, psychological and social changes and aspirations that place their life at risky sexual and reproductive behaviors. Despite the global initiatives and enabling national policy environments, in practice most regions of the world still fall short of meeting these commitments. In the developing world, including Ethiopia, adolescents’ sex and sexuality are socio-culturally sensitive issues to discuss openly. Because of that many young people in general and students in particular are less informed, less experienced in, and less comfortable about accessing contraceptive services than are adults. That results in very low uptake of contraceptive services among youth. The objective of this paper is, therefore, to analyze the prevalence of and factors associated with contraceptive services uptake among 354 randomly selected young students from two higher education institutions in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Data were collected using a cross-sectional survey questionnaire. The key predictors of contraception use were examined using binary logistic regression model. Results show that nearly half of the respondents were users of contraception, which is comparable to results from other studies. Being female; not having contraceptive methods knowledge; being from a woman-headed household; and not being sure about the adequacy/number of service centers are positively associated with the odds of contraceptives uptake, which does not necessarily equate with current use. Whereas, not obtaining information from service providing workers; having no concern about service providing workers' friendliness and/or confidentiality; and privacy in getting the service were negatively associated with contraceptives uptake. Female students can be used to better influence their male counterparts to use contraceptives. The findings suggest that service providing workers may be used as promising sources of information to boost contraceptives uptake. Uptake can be increased by minimizing barriers that hinder privacy, provider unfriendliness and service non-confidentiality. Family planning programs including counseling should employ Behaviour Change Communication (BCC) focusing on minimizing myths, misconceptions, shame, rumors, societal stigma, and traditional beliefs.