Determinant of Employees’ Motivation in the Hotel Industry

The main objective of this research was to identify the significant motivational factors affecting frontline employees who are currently working in the three and above star hotels in Mekelle city, Mekelle, Ethiopia. Descriptive study design was used to analyze the data collected through questionnaire from a sample of 157 front-line employees. The survey questionnaires was distributed to  the randomly selected frontline employees to evaluate the priory predetermined motivational factors from different theories on a 5-point scale indicating the level of importance associated with each factor.  The obtained data was processed through STATA version 11.0 software applications and was analyzed via weighted mean score, frequency, standard deviation, percentage, histogram and charts. The research findings indicate that (1) service (2) autonomy (3) organizational policy (4) supervision and (5) growth are the top five motivational factors among frontline employees in the hotel industry. Based on the findings of the study, the researcher recommended that hoteliers need focus on the identified significant motivational factors so as to satisfy customer’s needs and should also consider the differences on  demographic factors to deliver tailored motivational factors to their frontline employees accordingly

Enhancing Onion Production and Productivity through Introduction of Seed Production Techniques in Central Zone of Tigray Region, Ethiopia

The main reason of low production and productivity is restricted use of inputs, notably improved seeds and fertilizers. Different vegetable seeds are imported which results in different problems like disease outbreak, timely unavailability, costly and so on. The demand of vegetable seed is increasing from time to time. Though vegetable seed production is difficult, there are attempts and efforts to produce at local level. Strengthening of community based seed multiplication is a means to develop the vegetable seed production techniques and business. In order to bring this to practical, demonstration and scaling up activities conducted since 2009 to 2014.  Farmers Research Group (FRG) approach was used to implement the research. In 2013 an average yield of 7q/ha of onion seed was recorded while the maximum was 10 q/ha. While in 2014 a maximum yield 16 q/ha was recorded at farmers field. The yield increment might be due to skill development by the farmers. Farmers could get gross income of 24, 000 thousand from a parcel of 300 m2 land. Thus local seed production practice is technically possible and economically feasible and should be encouraged and promoted by all stakeholders so as to enhance the income and livelihood of farmers. Keywords: onion seed, production and yiel

Study on Digestive Physiology of Rumen in Selected Cattle Slaughtered at Addis Ababa Abattoir, ETHIOPIA

A cross sectional study was conducted from November 2009 to April 2010 on 210 cattle in Addis-Ababa abattoir, originating from every corner of the country including Addis Ababa for the aim of quantifying functional rumen microbial groups and looking at the factors affecting the ruminal environment. During the study, the randomly selected animals were restrained by the assistants and the specimen was collected by inserting the stomach tube until it reaches the rumen. Likewise collecting the rumen content was done immediately after the animals get slaughter.  Finally the rumen content were examined for their color, consistency, cotton thread breaking ability and their activity (denoted by motion) of the protozoa on microscopic glass slide. Up on doing the above examinations prevalence of 77.8% (87/210), 82.8% (30/210) was recorded from color content of green and yellow-brown respectively with statistically significant difference (P<0.05).  Prevalence of 75.9% on slight viscous, 71.4% extremely and 2% milky were also recorded when looked on the consistency. Furthermore, the pH and Cellulose (Cotton breakage ability) were statistically significant (P<0.05) with the prevalence of 75.1% (basic) and 4.8% (acidic); and 82.4% (unbroken cotton) and 7.5% (broken) recorded respectively. In conclusion, this study has indicated that there is a serious decrease in the motile protozoa number, especially those of medium sized and large sized with over dominance of the small sized protozoa. This is the basic base line data for rumen digestion environment and for future further studies. Keywords: Abattoir, Cattle, Rumen.

Ethiopia\u27s Sovereign Right of Access to the Sea under International Law

Since Eritrea’s secession from Ethiopia there has been continuous opposition by intellectuals and the opposition to the government’s policy of making Ethiopia a landlocked country. Some totally reject the secession, while others accept the independence as a fait accompli and voice concern over the lack of an outlet to the sea, and still others acknowledge the right of self-determination and secession of Eritrea but denounce the inconsistency of the application of the Transitional Charter regarding the Red Sea Afar and the Algiers Agreement for denying Ethiopia its legitimate right to access to the sea and allege that the government is acting against the paramount national interest of the country

Does diversity-based group formation work for students?

Working in group is believed to benefit students learning outcomes anddevelop better relationship, communication and team skills which are also important later in their professional life. However, previous research finds that these benefits may depend on the size, type and structure of the groups. I investigate whether groups formed by the teacher on the basis of academic and cultural diversity affects students perceived benefits and learning outcomes in an experiment implemented in a course “Advanced Development Economics” given for master’s students at the University of Copenhagen. I find that students diversity-based exogenous group formation increases learning outcomes as measured both by perceived new things learnt, better relationship, communication and team skills as well as final grades. However, the results also highlight the need for teachers to facilitate the group process, especially at the beginning, since diversity-based groups take some time before they function properly. While these results shade light on the role of diversity-based group formation in university teaching and learning, caution is required when interpreting the results given the small sample size and context of the experiment

The role of RUSACCOs on the improvement of member’s savings behavior in Ganta Afeshum Woreda, Tigray, Ethiopia

The study investigates the role of RUSACCOS on the improvement of members’ saving behavior in the study area. Saving is a key component in any development and it is believed to be the surest way of increasing income and enables members to reduce poverty. The study had the three Specific objectives, To analyze the existing RUSACCOS performance, to assess factors influencing role of RUSACCOs on members’ savings behavior improvement, to suggest recommendations to improve member’s savings behavior and effectiveness of RUSACCOs. To achieve the objectives, the study was undertaken in the Tigray National Regional State in the Eastern part of the region in one purposively selected woreda, namely Ganta Afeshum Woreda and used sample of 124 members, 6 promotion officials and cooperative experts and 6 from stakeholders, board and committee members were randomly selected. Both primary and secondary data were collected and used. Based on the objectives of the study, appropriate tools and techniques of analysis such as descriptive statistics, frequency, mean, minimum, maximum and percentage were employed. The variables that influence improvement of members’ saving behavior are seventeen: Annual savings, credit beneficiaries, savings interest, safety/security, convenience, liquidity, positive returns, amount of loan borrowed, access to training, distance to RUSACCOS office; accountability, transparency, education level, employment, seniority, annual income and family size. Based on the findings the study concluded that majority of members have poor saving habit, lack of training, less awareness about RUSACCOs are appropriate options for the rural households, which are providing services to improve members’ saving in sustainable manner. Major recommendations were made, RUSACCOs should develop varied products that meet various membership needs, Reward for regular savers by payment of interest on savings deposits, government and non Government organizations should create on saving mobilization, provide skill and knowledge though problem based trainings to improve members’ saving behavior and effectiveness of RUSACCOS

Four empirical essays in development economics

This dissertation contains four empirical studies on related topics in development economics. The four studies are all randomized field experiments and all of them use original data obtained from rural households in Northern Ethiopia for empirical analysis. The first study examines the medium term effects of commercial weather index insurance. I examine a randomized controlled trial in which commercial weather index insurance was offered to rural households who are highly vulnerable to drought. The results show that weather index insurance can significantly improve agricultural investments, agricultural yield and also household finance. The second study evaluates the effects of weather index insurance on rural households\u27 spending on children\u27s education. I examine whether insured households can better pay for their children\u27s education expenses due to better risk management. I also examine whether insured households can maintain their children\u27s education expenses when they experienced rainfall shocks. The results of these two questions are both positive. The third study examines the level of risk aversion of individuals and of groups. Specifically, I examine whether risk preference among poor people with low level of education can be framed by interactions among peers. The results of a randomized field experiment show that groups not only are more risk averse than individuals but also that the risk preference of individuals can be largely affected by prior interactions in groups. The final study examines how individuals provide responses to survey questions of sensitive nature. I conducted a randomized field experiment to examine whether survey design methods and survey incentives affect how individuals provide responses to sensitive questions. The results show that individuals who receive high survey incentives will more likely provide positive responses to questions that are moderately sensitive in nature (but not highly sensitive). I find no evidence that the way survey questions are being asked affects the way individuals respond to sensitive question

The Effect of Land Tenure Systems on Soil Conservation Practices in Northern Ethiopia - A Case Study of Habru District in Amhara National Regional State (ANRS), Ethiopia

This paper is a summary of a thesis submitted to th e Kimmage Development Studies Centre, Dublin in partial fulil ment of the requirement for the degree of MA in Development Stu dies. The paper examines the effect of land tenure systems on soil conservation practices as it is an important factor in shaping t he socio-economic structure of the Ethiopian rural sector. This resea rch was mainly a qualitative case study exercise, which used a range of data collection methods, semi-structured household interviews, focu s group discussions, key informant interviews and secondary data reviews. The indings of the research showed that all respond ents are aware of the problems of land degradation and as a result un dertake different types of soil and water conservation practices to m itigate the problem. The research also revealed that secure land tenure rights, be it before land registration or afterwards, is not a prerequis ite to farm households’ decisions to adopt soil conservation practices. Mor eover, the analysis revealed that factors like labour availability, fre quency of rural extension visits, non-farm income generating activities and h ousehold education have a positive linkage in determining farm househo lds’ decisions to invest in soil

Broadcast Speech and the State of Broadcasting with Reference to Ethiopia: A Review

The issue of this reviewed is the issue of broadcast speech and the state of broadcasting in general and the Ethiopian reference in particular. It is also the issue of the right to freedom of expression, media diversity and pluralism since the one cannot be isolated from the other in the principles of freedom of expression to secure and guaranteed and to be applied the right given by the international, regional conventions ratified by the member states and the national constitutions. This review found that unlike its history the spectrum showed poor development both in terms of diversity and pluralism due to the unjustified reasons of controlling methods done by governments and other loyalties by the name of nation building, national development, security and profit maximizing purposes. That is why; this review argued that the broadcast media should not be treated differently from the other media in regulation except for the convincing reasons such as the issues of scarcity and economic efficiency as well as the technical matters of the frequency. The very reason of the argument is that broadcast media is the main source of information and entertainment especially in countries with high level of illiteracy and poor economic capability. Thus, this review found that controlling the broadcasting spectrum is another means of limiting the right to freedom of expression and even denying the role that the broadcast media plays in the activities of a country’s overall development processes as well as nation building affairs.  This review, therefore, recommends that all stakeholders concerned with this issue should lobby the government as well as the policy formulators to reread and amend the existing proclamations with the highest responsibility and accountability to secure the use of the broadcast spectrum for the better exercising the emerging democracies and the overall development activities of the developing nations.   And it further recommends that government must participates concerned stakeholders on the issues of nation building and national development and security by maximizing the use of the spectrum since all this issues cannot be achieved without the participation of all concerned stakeholders. Keywords: Broadcast Speech, Freedom of Expression, Media Diversity, Media Pluralism, Broadcast Proclamatio

Cadastral System of Rural Landholding and Certification: Initial Impacts on Land Conflicts and Gender in Tigrai

Land has been the center of socio-economic and political debate since time immemorial. One of the main reasons for the increasing incidence of land-related conflicts; failure of land tenure systems to respond to the increasing land pressures and that this undermines investment incentives and land productivity. Women’s empowerment as a development goal is based on a dual justification: empowering women is by itself social justice and it is a means to other ends. Methods: The paper is based on the information from 279 households, 116 treated and 163 comparisons of Raya-Azebo woreda, Northern Ethiopia. After creating the common support through matching, logit and ordered logit models are employed to see the parametric relationships. OLS is also used in estimating the decision index of women empowerment. Results: The intervention seems to bring marked results in terms of reduction in the level of border conflict, perceived risk of encroachment and concern of border disputes. Farm size failed to significantly affect the change in border disputes. Nevertheless, other plot characteristics like clear demarcation, soil type, slope of the land, plot distance from the residence of the households; and household characteristics are found to significantly affect the variation in the probability of border disputes. In all the treated and non treated, gender of household head explains the variation in conflict in such a manner that those households with male headed have lower probability of border disputes as compared to the female headed households. There is no strong evidence (at least statistically) if participation in to the program has brought a change in the perception of women on equality with men counterparts. The same is true for the variable decision making on income earned of the household. Though the sign of change is encouraging, we cannot argue that participation in to the program has brought about an increase in the fall-back option or threat point and hence bargaining power of women in the study area, at its initial phase of implementation. Conclusions: The overall objectives of the intervention are, among others, reduction in border conflicts, and empowering women through joint titling. In its initial phase, the program is succeeding in border conflicts, though cannot avoid it totally. Border conflict is still the problem both in the treated area and comparison area, though there is improving trend as hypothesized. With regard to gender empowerment, our focus of analysis was on decision making, contribution to family income and self esteem of women. With the results we find, we failed to conclude that the intervention has brought significant difference, though the sign of change is improving