Child work and labour in Ethiopia: literature review and policy implications

This chapter aims to provide a preliminary bibliographical resource, an initial critical review of the literature, new insights on child work and labour in Ethiopia, and suggestions for future lines of research. The first part considers the different disciplinary and methodological approaches used to study the issues; we suggest that the various disciplinary lenses through which child work and labour have been studied result in a fragmented rather than an integrated picture. Moreover, we argue that there is a dichotomy between quantitative approaches, many of which have focused on rural surveys and the linkages between child work and education, and qualitative approaches that have concentrated on urban areas and vulnerable children. The second part briefly reviews findings from quantitative research notably on the prevalence of child work and its distribution, children’s time use and their contribution to the household economy, the impacts of government rural development and food security programmes on child work, and the implications of work for children’s health and wellbeing. The third part considers key findings from qualitative research on the work that children do, in particular that of children at risk focusing on the main categories studied, and discusses the value and meaning of work and changing work norms. The fourth part considers the policy context, international and national legal frameworks, policies and action plans. The fifth part considers interventions within the country to address child labour. The final part draws overall conclusions and identifies research gaps

Young women’s household bargaining power in marriage and parenthood in Ethiopia

This working paper examines the factors that affect the bargaining power of young married women in marriage and parenthood in Ethiopia, where power structures remain overwhelmingly male-dominated and patriarchal. It draws on longitudinal qualitative data and survey information collected by Young Lives with children, young people and their families between 2007 and 2015. The paper’s main focus is young women’s changing relations and analysis of their ‘bargaining power’ before and after marriage. The concept of bargaining power has been used to understand gender inequality, primarily from the field of economics, but this mainly qualitative paper takes bargaining power to mean the negotiating capacity of young married women within their marital relationships and households. The paper argues that intra-household, social-institutional and individual factors intertwine to shape young women’s agency towards bargaining power in differing areas of their lives. Generally, factors such as urban or rural residence, education, standard of living, customs and norms combine to shape the bargaining power of young women in marriage. Decisions are usually made at a collective level, whereas agency at the individual level is often very shallow. The paper recommends that policies and programmes targeted towards reducing gender inequality at intra-household level have to consider the wider contexts in which those households are situated, such as how cultural beliefs and norms shape marital practices, gender and generational relations, and decision-making more broadly

Neglected experiences: Fertility and childbearing among young people in Ethiopia

This policy brief draws on a qualitative study of young people in eight rural and urban communities who are part of the Young Lives longitudinal study of 3,000 children and young people in Ethiopia. The study investigates experiences of fertility and childbearing among young mothers and fathers, whose voices are rarely heard in the debates on child marriage. This policy brief is based on the following working paper: Chuta, N., K. Birhanu and V. Vinci (2020) Who Decides? Fertility and Childbearing Experiences of Young Married Couples in Ethiopia, Young Lives Working Paper 196, Oxford: Young Lives. This is one of a set of eight briefs summarising key findings and policy implications from eight corresponding working papers based on the research for the Young Lives fifth-wave qualitative survey in 2019

Young women’s household bargaining power in marriage and parenthood in Ethiopia

This working paper examines the factors that affect the bargaining power of young married women in marriage and parenthood in Ethiopia, where power structures remain overwhelmingly male-dominated and patriarchal. It draws on longitudinal qualitative data and survey information collected by Young Lives with children, young people and their families between 2007 and 2015. The paper’s main focus is young women’s changing relations and analysis of their ‘bargaining power’ before and after marriage. The concept of bargaining power has been used to understand gender inequality, primarily from the field of economics, but this mainly qualitative paper takes bargaining power to mean the negotiating capacity of young married women within their marital relationships and households. The paper argues that intra-household, social-institutional and individual factors intertwine to shape young women’s agency towards bargaining power in differing areas of their lives. Generally, factors such as urban or rural residence, education, standard of living, customs and norms combine to shape the bargaining power of young women in marriage. Decisions are usually made at a collective level, whereas agency at the individual level is often very shallow. The paper recommends that policies and programmes targeted towards reducing gender inequality at intra-household level have to consider the wider contexts in which those households are situated, such as how cultural beliefs and norms shape marital practices, gender and generational relations, and decision-making more broadly

Youth trajectories through work and marriage in rural Ethiopia

The paper explores young people’s trajectories through work and marriage in two rural communities in Ethiopia. Global policy attention and research has been dominated by the patterns found in high-income country contexts. Although there is increasing focus on ‘adolescence’ in low-income countries, the concept of ‘transition’ has been critiqued as inadequate. The paper explores the trajectories of young people who are no longer in formal schooling, through their involvement in work/livelihoods and marriage. It draws on Young Lives survey and qualitative longitudinal data. The paper suggests that ‘transitions’ in Ethiopia do not occur in a neat fashion and that education and early marriage are less linked to the linearity of transitions experienced by young people in Ethiopia. Thus, it is advisable to consider contexts that support the ‘transitions’ of young people while designing policies and programmes

The unrealised promises of education: the challenges of school to work transition in Ethiopia

This working paper focuses on how young men and women make the transition from school to work and the problems they encounter in doing so. It draws on Young Lives longitudinal qualitative and survey data which document the link between education and work over time. The paper addresses the following questions: What are the patterns of school to work transitions? What jobs are available for young people? What institutional arrangements support the transition from school to work? What are the challenges? Finally, it examines the implications for policy and programming. This working paper and the accompanying policy brief are part of a set of eight working papers and eight policy briefs on gendered transitions into young adulthood in Ethiopia.</p

Gendered trajectories of young people through school, work and marriage in Ethiopia

This paper discusses the school, work and marriage trajectories of young people in Ethiopia, drawing on qualitative longitudinal data gathered from 30 young people and their parents, and descriptive survey statistics. It contributes to the global debate on the linearity of transitions and seeks to establish whether gender plays a role in shaping young people’s trajectories. The key findings include that children developed high educational aspirations and tried hard to achieve them, though often with little success. Poverty, work, illness, family-related problems, and (for girls in particular) early marriage had cumulative negative impacts, eventually forcing them to leave school. Furthermore, the transition to marriage affected young women and men differently, and getting married prior to finishing education curtailed the ambitions of some girls as they became housewives, fully dependent upon the income of their husbands. These findings challenge the normative understanding of ‘transitions’ by suggesting that they are neither clear-cut nor a one-off or one-way process. In Ethiopia, where poverty and strong social norms shape the majority of children’s lives, their trajectories appear to be interconnected and overlapping, rather than distinct pathways. Finally, the paper highlights some policy implications, calling for comprehensive childfocused social protection interventions to reduce the negative impacts of both poverty and gender on young people’s trajectories

Transitions to adulthood in Ethiopia. Preliminary findings: summary and policy issues

This is the summary of preliminary findings from the 5th wave of qualitative research across 10 communities in 5 regions of Ethiopia. The research documented the current circumstances and recent life changes of the two cohorts of children in Young Lives; the Young Cohort (now aged 19) making the transition into adulthood and the Older Cohort (aged 25) already experiencing early adult life. The report offers early analysis of young people's interrelated transitions to adulthood with respect to schooling, work and employment, marriage and having children and includes preliminary policy implications for each theme. The findings and analysis in this short report will be explored in greater depth in 8 papers, forthcoming in 2020

What work after school? Challenges of labour market transitions in Ethiopia

This policy brief draws on qualitative research relating to young people and their caregivers in five communities (both rural and urban) who are part of the Young Lives longitudinal study of 3,000 children and young people in Ethiopia. The analysis reveals the challenges young people face in their transition from education to paid work, and the differential impacts of location, economic background and gender, as well as examining the role of government and institutions. This brief is based on the following working paper: Tafere, Y. and N. Chuta (2020) The Unrealised Promises of Education: The Challenges of School to Work Transition in Ethiopia, Young Lives Working Paper 190. Oxford: Young Lives and is one of a set of eight briefs summarising key findings and policy implications from eight corresponding working papers based on the research for the Young Lives fifth-wave qualitative survey in 201

Gendered trajectories of young people through school, work and marriage in Ethiopia

This paper discusses the school, work and marriage trajectories of young people in Ethiopia, drawing on qualitative longitudinal data gathered from 30 young people and their parents, and descriptive survey statistics. It contributes to the global debate on the linearity of transitions and seeks to establish whether gender plays a role in shaping young people’s trajectories. The key findings include that children developed high educational aspirations and tried hard to achieve them, though often with little success. Poverty, work, illness, family-related problems, and (for girls in particular) early marriage had cumulative negative impacts, eventually forcing them to leave school. Furthermore, the transition to marriage affected young women and men differently, and getting married prior to finishing education curtailed the ambitions of some girls as they became housewives, fully dependent upon the income of their husbands. These findings challenge the normative understanding of ‘transitions’ by suggesting that they are neither clear-cut nor a one-off or one-way process. In Ethiopia, where poverty and strong social norms shape the majority of children’s lives, their trajectories appear to be interconnected and overlapping, rather than distinct pathways. Finally, the paper highlights some policy implications, calling for comprehensive childfocused social protection interventions to reduce the negative impacts of both poverty and gender on young people’s trajectories