Corporate Social Responsibility for Social Dimension of Human Development in Ethiopia: A Conceptual Paper

CSR is an important agent of change to address the challenges of social dimension of human development However, Ethiopia lagged behind the concept of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) guideline and framework. The central theme of this paper is to analyze how Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is important for human development. Based on analysis of 50 scholarly papers and research journals, books and organizational website products/ leaflets, the importance of CSR for human development is discussed in relation to the experiences of Japan and South Africa and their relevance to Ethiopia. CSR is an essential concept for the accumulation of social capital (in the form of social networks development and activities of voluntary associations) thereby facilitating greater participation in civic and political associations, trust, honesty, reliability, and developing collaboration in the society. Ethiopians and CSR are compatible because Ethiopians are “open minded” and receptive towards socio-cultural life as reflected by the extended family structure; “collectivism” is a dominant national culture. It is suggested that it is essential that Ethiopians practice CSR by focusing on indigenous opportunities that are available locally without dogmatic copying of other countries. Keywords: Collectivism, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Human development, Social Capital

POTENTIALITY ASSESSMENT FOR ECOTOURISM DEVELOPMENT IN DIDA HARA CONSERVATION SITE OF BORENA NATIONAL PARK, ETHIOPIA

The main objective of this research is identifying the ecotourism resources and products for ecotourism development in the Dida Hara conservation site of BoranaNational Park, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia. The study used a cross-sectional descriptive research design. Both qualitative and quantitative methods are used. The data were collected by using a questionnaire, interview, field observation and secondary document analysis. The questionnaire was distributed to the visitors in order to determine the market demand by using convenience sampling technique. Interview was conducted with office personnel’s, tour operators and selected local community representatives and selected by using non- probability sampling technique.  The study revealed that Dida Hara conservation site of Borana National Park has potential ecotourism resources especially in terms of wildlife (more than 40 mammal species), birds (more than 280 bird species) and cultural resources (especially Borana community Gada system and Buna Qalla ceremony). The Park area is the centre of endemic birds like; Ethiopian Bush Crow, White-Tailed Swallow, Prince Ruspoil’s Turaco. The presence of such untapped ecotourism resources has also a potential for community participation including natural resources conservation and awareness for negative and positive impacts of ecotourism. The local communities are also positive towards ecotourism development in the destination. Based on the visitor's survey result more than 90 % are interested to view wildlife and birds and 86.5 % of the visitors are willing to recommend for others to visit the site. Besides these, the visitor's survey revealed that around 97.8 % of the respondents are considering themselves as ecotourist and willing to spend more money to eco-tourism destination (84.3) as compared to regular tourism destination. Furthermore, the study confirmed that the identification of ecotourism resources play a significant role in the development of ecotourism and for marketing the destination for the future. In this destination, no research has conducted in related with the potential resources for ecotourism development by using such multi-directional data collection tools including market demand analysis.   &nbsp

Tourism Potential & Challenges for Islamic Monastery Heritage Sites in Ethiopia: Tiru Sina Mosque

The main intent of this study is to investigate unusual Islamic monastery heritage sites by focusing on the potential resources and challenges for religious tourism development at Tiru Sina Mosque. To meet this objective a qualitative approach was utilised and data were collected through interviews with elderly religious fathers in addition to culture and tourism officers. Additional focus groups, discussions and deep personal observations were conducted. As the findings reveal, Tiru Sina Mosque is a unique Islamic monastic site with great potential for religious tourism development. This unique Islamic monastery heritage site has socio-cultural, economic, historical, religious and aesthetic values. The study also confirmed, even though the area is rich in cultural heritage, there are serious challenges that affect its development. The major problems are lack of awareness, poor handling systems for heritage, lack of infrastructural development, absence of coordination among stakeholders, shortage of skilled professionals, lack of cooperation and partnership among different stakeholders, heritage destruction and lack of conservation, and lack of risk management

The Ongoing Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Traditional Art Industry in North-Central Ethiopia

The main aim of this study was to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on traditional art and craftworks in North-Central Ethiopia. The study was conducted using a descriptive study design. A total of 72 samples were selected for a questionnaire survey, and 16 informants were contacted for interview purposes. The study found that 79% of the art businesses were closed, creating more visible and systematic challenges. The pandemic has created challenges for artists to change their work from crafts to mask production, traditional art and crafts pedagogy, and women’s labor forces. Additionally, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, 80.56, 81.94, and 81.94% of traditional artists and craftsmen’s physical mobility were paused, the artistic freedom and knowledge transfer activities were denied, and the ability to work their artistic activities was reduced, respectively. On the other hand, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, 77.78% of traditional artists and craftsmen were worried about being unemployed and 76.39% were in disturbing situations due to the coronavirus. Furthermore, 61.11% of respondents did not feel motivated or optimistic about the future of their work as a result of corona

Mapping geographical inequalities in oral rehydration therapy coverage in low-income and middle-income countries, 2000–17

Abstract Background: Oral rehydration solution (ORS) is a form of oral rehydration therapy (ORT) for diarrhoea that has the potential to drastically reduce child mortality; yet, according to UNICEF estimates, less than half of children younger than 5 years with diarrhoea in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) received ORS in 2016. A variety of recommended home fluids (RHF) exist as alternative forms of ORT; however, it is unclear whether RHF prevent child mortality. Previous studies have shown considerable variation between countries in ORS and RHF use, but subnational variation is unknown. This study aims to produce high-resolution geospatial estimates of relative and absolute coverage of ORS, RHF, and ORT (use of either ORS or RHF) in LMICs. Methods: We used a Bayesian geostatistical model including 15 spatial covariates and data from 385 household surveys across 94 LMICs to estimate annual proportions of children younger than 5 years of age with diarrhoea who received ORS or RHF (or both) on continuous continent-wide surfaces in 2000–17, and aggregated results to policy-relevant administrative units. Additionally, we analysed geographical inequality in coverage across administrative units and estimated the number of diarrhoeal deaths averted by increased coverage over the study period. Uncertainty in the mean coverage estimates was calculated by taking 250 draws from the posterior joint distribution of the model and creating uncertainty intervals (UIs) with the 2·5th and 97·5th percentiles of those 250 draws. Findings: While ORS use among children with diarrhoea increased in some countries from 2000 to 2017, coverage remained below 50% in the majority (62·6%; 12 417 of 19 823) of second administrative-level units and an estimated 6 519 000 children (95% UI 5 254 000–7 733 000) with diarrhoea were not treated with any form of ORT in 2017. Increases in ORS use corresponded with declines in RHF in many locations, resulting in relatively constant overall ORT coverage from 2000 to 2017. Although ORS was uniformly distributed subnationally in some countries, within-country geographical inequalities persisted in others; 11 countries had at least a 50% difference in one of their units compared with the country mean. Increases in ORS use over time were correlated with declines in RHF use and in diarrhoeal mortality in many locations, and an estimated 52 230 diarrhoeal deaths (36 910–68 860) were averted by scaling up of ORS coverage between 2000 and 2017. Finally, we identified key subnational areas in Colombia, Nigeria, and Sudan as examples of where diarrhoeal mortality remains higher than average, while ORS coverage remains lower than average. Interpretation: To our knowledge, this study is the first to produce and map subnational estimates of ORS, RHF, and ORT coverage and attributable child diarrhoeal deaths across LMICs from 2000 to 2017, allowing for tracking progress over time. Our novel results, combined with detailed subnational estimates of diarrhoeal morbidity and mortality, can support subnational needs assessments aimed at furthering policy makers’ understanding of within-country disparities. Over 50 years after the discovery that led to this simple, cheap, and life-saving therapy, large gains in reducing mortality could still be made by reducing geographical inequalities in ORS coverage