Towards a digital money structure for illiterate users

In developing countries, although money is becoming digital in the form of mobile money, it is not easily used by millions of illiterate users in their everyday transactions. Digitization of material money thus poses a challenge to many users. Existing mobile money systems and platforms represent money in terms of simple numbers, like 13, 50, 0.78, 23.64, 80 etc. This way of money representation is almost unusable by illiterate users, unless they depend on others' help. The literature has overlooked the different metadata inscribed on material money (like icons or images, colour, security means, and serial numbers etc). However, these metadata enable illiterate users to identify different currency notes. The material properties of money bills also enable illiterates do simple maths like addition, subtraction, division, and counting. However, current mobile money solutions have not considered money bill's metadata. Such absence of metadata made money bill identification and transactions difficult for illiterates. The work described in this paper uses the theory of digital objects and theory of non-material technological objects and presents a theoretical presentation for the structure of digital money, to be used in digital ecosystem

Poverty, youth and rural-urban migration in Ethiopia

This paper explores the relationships between poverty and rural-urban migration in Ethiopia. It draws upon research particularly of migration for work in the construction industry and domestic work. The paper describes and analyses migration from a poor rural woreda (district) in northern Ethiopia, to the nearby city of Bahir Dar and the capital, Addis Ababa. Extreme poverty is one of the main driving factors behind these flows of migration. Our research suggests that migration of this type does not lead to immediate flows of remittance income from migrants to their households. We explain why this is, and how migrants and their households nevertheless plan to move out of poverty. We argue that there are important non-economic factors and long-term strategies that encourage migration even where working conditions are hard and returns are low

Valuing Conservation of Walia Ibex: An Application of Choice Experiment Valuation Method

For the purpose of valuing conservation of Walia Ibex, in this paper choice experiment environmental valuation technique is employed. 200 residents from Addis Ababa and 94 foreign visitors have been randomly chosen to reply to a CE survey questionnaire. Hence, four attributes; change in population size, change in listing status, funding mechanism and employment opportunity were taken along with a monetary attribute to describe various conservation management options. Furthermore, Random Parameters Logit model has been used to estimate the choice data set generated from the survey. The estimation result demonstrates that all the attributes are significant, except employment opportunity attribute in the case of visitors. Moreover, years of education and family size were found to significantly affect residents’ utility with positive and negative impacts respectively. Age is found to positively and significantly affect visitors’ utility for conservation improvements. The highest MWTP being accredited to change in listing status attribute for both the residents and visitors’, conservation practitioners are advised to focus on conservation elements improving listing status of the species. Keywords: Choice Experiment, Walia Ibex, Endangered, Conservation, non-use value, Ethiopia

Awareness of Sexual Trafficking and Associated Factors Among Youth Females in Debre Birhan Town, North Shewa, Ethiopia 2019: Community Based Cross-sectional Study

Background: sexual trafficking is a major issue affecting both developing and developed countries. Therefore, this study aimed to assess sexual trafficking and associated factors among female youths in Debre Berhan town, North Shewa, Ethiopia Methods: - Community based cross-sectional study was conducted by using systematic random sampling method of data collection from February 05 to April 10, 2019 from a total of 582 youth females. Result: Among the total of 582 study participants 300(52%) of the participants had awareness about sexual trafficking. Mother’s educational status; elementary [AOR=2.068, 95%CI(1.079-3.963)] and secondary[AOR=3.446, 95%CI(1.298-9.154)], parents’ occupational status ;governmental worker [AOR=2.2, 95%CI(1.02-4.747)], participants occupational status [AOR=6.203, 95% CI(1.099- 35.005)],having television at home [AOR=2.083, 95% CI(1.305-3.326)] and taking training on gender issues [AOR=3.887,95% CI: (2.591-5.832)] were independent predictors  risk factors for awareness of sexual trafficking. Conclusion: In this study, sexual trafficking awareness among female youth was low. Mother education status, parents’ occupation, participant’s job, having television in home and taking training on gender issues were significantly associated with awareness of sexual trafficking. Therefore, accessibilities of education and information through the community have to be taken as strategy for enhancing awareness of sexual trafficking among youth. Keywords: Awareness, Sexual trafficking, Youth females DOI: 10.7176/JHMN/72-02 Publication date:March 31st 202

Grain Yield and Yield Components Response to Omission of Nutrients on Maize (Zea Mays L.) at Kersa District, Jimma Zone, Ethiopia

The nutrient supply capacity of a soil varies with soil types as well as with farmers’ crop management practices. Yet fertilizer application in Ethiopia is based on regional recommendations, which do not take in to account the variability in soil types as well as farmers’ crop management practices. Thus, site specific fertilizer recommendation that considers soil variability and difference in farmers’ crop management practices is quite important. A field experiment was conducted with an objective to identify which of macronutrients N, P and K are limiting maize grain and yield components in the study area during 2017/18 cropping season. The experiments were laid out in a completely randomized block design with six treatments replicated across six farmers’ fields in Kersa district, Jimma zone, south western Ethiopia. The trial consisted of six treatments, which include the unfertilized control, PK, NK, NP, NPK and NPK+. Maize grain yield was the highest for the NPK treatment followed by NPK+ treatment but lowest for the unfertilized control and N omitted plots. The magnitude of grain yield reduction due to nutrient omission followed the trend of N omission> P omission> K omission. In the absence of N, P, and K maize grain yields were significantly lower compared to that of NPK and NPK+ treatments. From among the different treatments, NPK gave the highest grain yield(9185 kg ha-1), while the control treatment gave the lowest grain yield (1861.3 kg ha-1).Grain yield levels obtained for different fertilizer treatments were ranked as NPK > NPK+>NP>PK>NK, illustrating that N deficiency was the most yield limiting nutrient followed by P and K in that order. Therefore, the use of appropriate balanced fertilizers should be used for efficient nutrient uptake which ultimately increases maize productivity. Keywords: Maize, Nitrogen, Nutrient omission, Phosphorus, Potassium DOI: 10.7176/JEES/11-8-04 Publication date:August 31st 202

An investigation into motivational techniques teachers use in reading classes: Agaro and Gembe High Schools grade 10 in focus

The purpose of this study was to identify activities that need consideration in designing and implementing motivational techniques in reading lesson. For this reason, this investigation was made on teachers' use of motivational techniques for reading classes. The study was conducted in a sample of 10 teachers and 100 purposefully selected grade ten students of Agaro and Gembe Secondary schools. To collect the required data for the study, questionnaires, Classroom observations and interview were used as an instrument. The data gathered indicated that, the implementation of additional reading materials in reading classroom was neglected. In addition to this, teachers practice of using different reading activities that engage students in reading were not given due attention. Moreover, with regard to teachers' role of provision of support/assistance was very limited. In addition as the finding depicted even though teachers aware of motivational techniques, they do not implement it in reading classes. Therefore, to minimize the problem and to design motivational techniques to engage students in reading tasks the researcher recommends that, effort should be made in using additional reading materials that arise students engagement in reading, teachers should also develop practical skills and put their beliefs/awareness into action to their regarding motivational techniques in teaching reading, and the Ministry of Education and other responsible bodies need to offer trainings to secondary school English language teachers on the implementation of the teaching reading in motivating way and also conducting continuous research which help to identify teachers' pedagogical support students need to get are great concerns.Jimma Universit

Mobile money system design for illiterate users in rural Ethiopia

Current mobile money systems provide users with hierarchical user interface and represent money as a positive rational numbers of the form 1, 3, 4.87.N. However, research indicates that rural communities that cannot read and write have a challenge entering such numbers in to mobile money system. Navigating through hierarchical text menu is also difficult to illiterate individuals. The present study uses concepts like memory placeholders, dragging & dropping; swiping, temporary holding space, and frequency counter and proposed a system that consists of three layers. The first layer denotes user interface and uses photos of currency notes, second layer is a placeholder memory that keep record of the frequency of currency bill, and the last layer keeps record of the total digital money in the system. We believe that the proposed system enables illiterate to identify currency notes while making payments and receiving payments, count digital money while making payments and or receiving payments during transaction

Inventory Management Practice in Micro and Small Enterprise: The Case of MSEs’ Manufacturing Sub Sector Arsi Zone, Ethiopia

This study aimed to empirically examine the impact of inventory management practice on firms’ competitiveness and organizational performance. Data for the study were collected from 188 micro and small enterprises (MSEs) operating in manufacturing sub sector and the relationships and hypothesis proposed in the conceptual framework were tested using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). The results indicate that higher levels of inventory management practice can lead to enhanced competitive advantage and improved organizational performance. Also, competitive advantage can have a direct, positive impact on organizational performance. Therefore, it is recommended for policy makers, universities, NGOs and any concerned party who are engaged in supporting of micro and small enterprises need to work in providing the necessary training and resource to promote the inventory management practice of MSEs which will result in increasing their competitiveness and organizational performance. That would enhance their contribution to economic development of the country.   Note that, the conclusion obtained from this study may not be used to generalize to large and medium scale as well as overall sectors since its focus is only from the MSEs manufacturing sub sector points of view. Keywords: Inventory management; manufacturing, performance, competitiveness, SE

Devolution of Power and Woreda or District Development in Benshangul Gumuz Regional State: The Case of Metkel Zone (North West Ethiopia)

Decentralized governance offers opportunities for achieving development through good governance and community participation at the grass root level (Ayenew, 2007). Ethiopia has adopted two phases of decentralization, namely decentralizing of power from the federal government to the regional level and from the regional to the woreda level (Gebre-Egziabher & Berhanu, 2007). Thus, this study has aimed at assessing the effect of the woreda level decentralization on the development of the Metekel zone. In particular, it examines the nature of political, administrative and fiscal decentralization in woredas. The study was conducted in two selected woreda, Bulen and Mandura. Data were collected from primary sources with the help of questionnaires, interviews and observations. The primary data were also supported by secondary documents such as federal and regional constitutions, proclamations, regulations, local development plans, official performance reports, and magazines. The study revealed that woreda level decentralization actually has influenced development at the grass root level in the Metekel zone in general. Better infrastructural provisions (education and health) were witnessed in the woredas. This is due to better community participation in the decision-making process and availability of opportunities to express their interest. Though, more is expected, the financial capacity of woredas has also registered progress. The shortage of qualified manpower and weak community participation in development activities were other factors that have impacted the further performance of woredas.Decentralized governance offers opportunities for achieving development through good governance and community participation at the grass root level (Ayenew, 2007). Ethiopia has adopted two phases of decentralization, namely decentralizing of power from the federal government to the regional level and from the regional to the woreda level (Gebre-Egziabher & Berhanu, 2007). Thus, this study has aimed at assessing the effect of the woreda level decentralization on the development of the Metekel zone. In particular, it examines the nature of political, administrative and fiscal decentralization in woredas. The study was conducted in two selected woreda, Bulen and Mandura. Data were collected from primary sources with the help of questionnaires, interviews and observations. The primary data were also supported by secondary documents such as federal and regional constitutions, proclamations, regulations, local development plans, official performance reports, and magazines. The study revealed that woreda level decentralization actually has influenced development at the grass root level in the Metekel zone in general. Better infrastructural provisions (education and health) were witnessed in the woredas. This is due to better community participation in the decision-making process and availability of opportunities to express their interest. Though, more is expected, the financial capacity of woredas has also registered progress. The shortage of qualified manpower and weak community participation in development activities were other factors that have impacted the further performance of woredas

Analysis on Determinants of Students Self Employment Intension in Newly Established Universities of Ethiopia: The Case of Dire Dawa University

Entrepreneurship and small businesses have been designated as the “engines of growth” because of their job creating phenomenon, not only in the advanced countries but also developing and privatizing economies across the globe. Fostering entrepreneurship among university students has become an important topic among entrepreneurship researchers. The university is an institution, which students pass on toward working life. The aim of this study was to investigate determinants of entrepreneurial intensions among newly established universities of Ethiopia by taking Dire Dawa University as a case study. The paper also tried to describe the level of students’ entrepreneurial intension, students’ attitude towards entrepreneurship, entrepreneurial environment created in the university, whether or not entrepreneurship course delivered in the university created self employment intension. To do so the researcher applied stratified proportionate random sampling technique in which 690 sample respondents from institute of technology, school of business and economics, school of social science, school of natural science, school of health and school of Law were taken as a sample via single population proportion formula of Kish and Leslie. Further primary source of data was collected via questionnaire from previous entrepreneurial intentions standardized questionnaires of different scholars. For the sake of analyzing the data Descriptive statistics was calculated using frequencies and percentages and then Binary Logistic regression analysis with 95% CI was used to assess the relative effect of independent variables on the dependent variable.The majority (77%) of sample student respondents have no Entrepreneurial intention. In multivariate analysis, attitude towards entrepreneurship was found to be a statistically significant factor of student’s entrepreneurial intension. Those who have favorable attitude towards entrepreneurship more likely to have entrepreneurial intension than those who don’t have favorable attitude towards entrepreneurship (exp(B)=6.348, 95%=CI 3.28,12.26). better self employment/entrepreneurial intension was also observed in those students who are willing to take risk than those who don’t in which those students who have high risk taking propensity almost three time entrepreneurial intension than those who have low risk taking propensity  (exp(B)= 2.67, 95%=CI (1.906, 3.755)). Similarly those high proactive personality students have 1.57 times self employment intension than low proactive personality students (exp(B)= 1.57, 99%=CI ((1.293, 2.603)). Participation in entrepreneurship course also statistically significant in determining students entrepreneurial intension in DDU albeit those who participate in the course didn’t have that much significant difference in their self employment intension (exp(B)= 1.04, 95%=CI (0.732, 1.500). Further those students who have high perceived behavioral control have 4.65 times self employment intension than low perceived behavioral control students (exp(B)= 4.65, 95%=CI ((2.342, 9.231)).Attitude towards university entrepreneurial environment was also statistically significant factor for students’ entrepreneurial/self employment intension (exp(B)= 1.1, 95%=CI (0.781, 1.550)) . However, subjective norm wasn’t statically significant in determining DDU students’ entrepreneurial intensions.Generally, the over level of entrepreneurial or self employment intensions of students in Dire Dawa University is too low. Further students perceived the way entrepreneurship course delivered and entrepreneurial environment created in the university is not satisfactory/ adequate enough to urge students to pursue entrepreneurial career as an option for their future career. Keywords: entrepreneurial intension, Dire Dawa University, Determinants of entrepreneurial intension, attitude towards entrepreneurshi