Micro Finance and Women Empowerment in Urban Setting: Reflection from Southern Ethiopia

The main objective of the study is to explore the extent, to which women are empowered thorough micro finance programs, a reflection from Southern Ethiopia. Mixed research methodology was used to generate data both from primary and secondary sources. Primary data were collected by means of survey questionnaire, in-depth-interview of cases, key informant interview, focus group discussion, non-participant observation, and field notes. An analytical framework was applied for better understandings and measuring empowerment in the context of this study. The collected data were analyzed, summarized, and interpreted through qualitative and quantitative methods of data analysis where, Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS) was used to quantitatively present the numeric data. In spite of the entry barriers into the programs, it was revealed that participation in the programs has brought positive economic and social impacts on the lives of the beneficiary women. Alternatively, women perception and experiences of empowerment through micro finance programs is truly interesting as viewed in the eyes of the women themselves. Revisiting client selection criteria; promote saving mobilizations; scale up best practices of women affair office of the town so far made to inculcate the roles and values women play; and uphold experience sharing mechanisms between participant and other women in the study area as a way out. Keywords: Micro finance, empowerment, and perception. DOI: 10.7176/JESD/10-3-0

Migration and Urban Livelihoods A Quest for Sustainability in Southern Ethiopia

This article explores migration as a livelihood option in one of the emerging cities in a region that is considered as a development corridor in Ethiopia Wolaita Sodo In doing so it shades light on the major forces behind rural to urban migration migrants access to livelihood resources and major livelihood activities coping mechanisms and outcomes achieved Concurrent mixed research design was used to generate data both from primary and secondary sources Mix of migration theories from three different perspectives were reviewed and Sustainable Livelihood Framework was applied as an analytical framework to critically examine the problem in its context Results show that the main factors behind rural-urban migration were poverty and unemployment 95 7 intermittent income and limited job opportunities 93 2 limited mobility 80 9 poor health facilities 80 shortage of cheap energy sources like electricity 79 1 seasonality of agricultural employment 74 and insecurity of asset ownership 73 4 on the other hand 100 of surveyed migrants reported that better outlook and hope for the future hope that there are no poverty and unemployment challenges and hope for better health education and other services were the major pull factors migrants vulnerabilities to shocks trends and seasonality were highly determined by their available and accessible assets context within which they are operating and transforming structures which determine their access Moreover diverse livelihood activities where short-term coping mechanisms and long-term survival strategies co-exist livelihood outcomes of migrants were reported both as positive and negative but the positive impacts exceeded as measured by livelihood asset indicators These results broadly attest to the importance of applying migration theories in a comprehensive way as opposed to the conventional wisdom of using a theory Therefore pro-migration policies and programs shoul

Climate Variability and Farmers' Perception in Southern Ethiopia

The study aims to analyze climate variability and farmers' perception in Southern Ethiopia. Gridded annual temperature and precipitation data were obtained from the National Meteorological Agency (NMA) of Ethiopia for the period between 1983 and 2014. Using a multistage sampling technique, 403 farm households were surveyed to substantiate farmers' perceptions about climate variability and change. The study applied a nonparametric Sen's slope estimator and Mann–Kendall's trend tests to detect the magnitude and statistical significance of climate variability and binary logit regression model to find factors influencing farm households' perceptions about climate variability over three agroecological zones (AEZs). The trend analysis reveals that positive trends were observed in the annual maximum temperature, 0.02°C/year (p<0.01) in the lowland and 0.04°C/year (p<0.01) in the highland AEZs. The positive trend in annual minimum temperature was consistent in all AEZs and significant (p<0.01). An upward trend in the annual total rainfall (10 mm/year) (p<0.05) was recorded in the midland AEZ. Over 60% of farmers have perceived increasing temperature and decreasing rainfall in all AEZs. However, farmers' perception about rainfall in the midland AEZ contradicts with meteorological analysis. Results from the binary logit model inform that farmers' climate change perceptions are significantly influenced by their access to climate and market information, agroecology, education, agricultural input, and village market distance. Based on these results, it is recommended to enhance farm households' capacity by providing timely weather and climate information along with institutional actions such as agricultural extension services

"Trends in Extreme Climate Events over Three Agroecological Zones of Southern Ethiopia,"

The study aims to assess trends in extremes of surface temperature and precipitation through the application of the World Meteorological Organization's (WMO) Expert Team on Climate Change Detection and Indices (ETCCDI) on datasets representing three agroecological zones in Southern Ethiopia. The indices are applied to daily temperature and precipitation data. Nonparametric Sen's slope estimator and Mann–Kendall's trend tests are used to detect the magnitude and statistical significance of changes in extreme climate, respectively. All agroecological zones (AEZs) have experienced both positive and negative trends of change in temperature extremes. Over three decades, warmest days, warmest nights, and coldest nights have shown significantly increasing trends except in the midland AEZ where warmest days decreased by 0.017°C/year (p<0.05). Temperature extreme's magnitude of change is higher in the highland AEZ and lower in the midland AEZ. The trend in the daily temperature range shows statistically significant decrease across AEZs (p<0.05). A decreasing trend in the cold spell duration indicator was observed in all AEZs, and the magnitude of change is 0.667 days/year in lowland (p<0.001), 2.259 days/year in midland, and 1 day/year in highland (p<0.05). On the contrary, the number of very wet days revealed a positive trend both in the midland and highland AEZs (p<0.05). Overall, it is observed that warm extremes are increasing while cold extremes are decreasing, suggesting considerable changes in the AEZs

Spatiotemporal Changes in Mean and Extreme Climate: Farmers’ Perception and Its Agricultural Implications in Awash River Basin, Ethiopia

The increase in the intensity and frequency of climate extremes threatens socioeconomic development. This study examines variability of mean and extreme climate, farmers’ perception of the changes, and impacts in the Awash River Basin. Daily rainfall and temperature data were used to analyze 23 extreme climate indices. The Mann–Kendall test was used to assess the magnitude and significance of the changes. Results show an increase in minimum (0.019–0.055 °C/year) and maximum temperatures (0.049–0.09 °C/year), while total rainfall is on a downward trend (from −3.84 mm/year to −10.26 mm/year). Warm extreme temperature indicators, including warmest day (TXx), warmest night (TNx), warm day (TX90p), warm night (TN90p), and warm spell duration indicator (WSDI), show a significant increasing trend (p < 0.05). Nevertheless, except the tepid–cool humid agroecology zone, cold extreme temperature indicators in cool days (TN10p), cool nights (TX10p), and cold spell duration (CSDI) are declining. Extreme precipitation indices, including maximum 1-day precipitation amount (RX1day), count of days when precipitation ≥10 mm (R10 mm), maximum 5-day precipitation amount (RX5day), count of days when precipitation ≥20 mm (R20mm), very wet days (R95p), extreme wet days (R99p), and total precipitation (PRCPTOT), show a decreasing trend. The perception of most farmers’ on climate change and climate extremes agreed with climate records. The major impacts perceived and asserted over all agroecologies are food price inflation, crop productivity decline, crop pests and diseases spread, livestock disease increase, and the emergence of pests and weeds. The increasing trend in extreme warm temperatures, decreasing trend in the cold extreme, and declining trend in precipitation indicators affected agricultural productivity and farmers whose livelihood depends on rainfed agriculture. This agroecology-specific study provides critical information to policymakers, decision makers, and farmers about the potential impacts of climate change and extreme events, leading to the development of agroecology-based adaptation measures