AAU Institutional Repository (AAU-ETD)
Addis Ababa University Institutional repository is an open access repository that collects,preserves, and disseminates scholarly outputs of the university. AAU-ETD archives' collection of master's theses, doctoral dissertations and preprints showcase the wide range of academic research undertaken by AAU students over the course of the University's long history.
How to Submit Your Work
The repository contains scholarly work, both unpublished and published, by current or former AAU faculty, staff, and students, including Works by AAU students as part of their masters, doctoral, or post-doctoral research
- All AAU faculty, staff, and students are invited to submit their work to the repository. Please contact the library at your college.
You may contact digirep@aau.edu.et.with any questions about the repository
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Recent Submissions
Spatial Extent and the Regularization of Informal Settlements in Addis Ababa Ethiopia
(Addis Ababa University, 2026-06-01) Melaku Eticha; Elias Yitbarek; Mintesinot Woldeamanuel
Rapid urbanization, coupled with shortage of affordable formal housing, has contributed to the growth and persistence of informal settlements. Through time, these informal settlements have become part and parcel of the overall social and spatial fabrics of the given city, despite political changes, institutional restructuring, and land governance challenges. In this connection the aim of this research is mainly to identify the extent of informal settlements in the city of Addis Ababa, particularly after the restructuring of its boundary with Shaggar city. Secondly it tries to evaluate the regularization process of informal settlements ranging from registry to titling through investigation of spatial, legal and institutional setup. The study also interrogates the spatial layout, available regulations and identifies the actors involved at each stage of the regularization process. Thirdly, it examines implementation of the regularization process in relation to urban land use planning. Both qualitative and quantitative methods were used in undertaking the research. The study also reviewed the existing literature including policies, legal frameworks, regularization base maps, cadaster plans and available urban plan documents collected from different sources including city sectoral offices. Field observations and interviews were made with key experts in the field as well as with low income community groups. Furthermore, observations were also made in pertinent offices on archived daily records and desk services so as to better understand the extent and context of the regularization processes of informal settlements. Data were analyzed by ArcGIS 10.8 software to identify the location of informal settlements by overlying the collected data and verifying this with field observation at selected areas using recent satellite images. It is observed that the existing data are fragmented, inconsistent, and difficult to access or retrieve. The study results have shown that about 50 percent of settlements are informal. Moreover, findings related to regularization process show that the process is considerably slow and inefficient, often requiring residents to make multiple follow-up visits (on average up two years) and remains a challenging task to get title deeds because of spatial or land use plan mismatches, legislative gaps and fragmented institutional setup. Findings regarding institutions also revealed unclear roles and responsibilities of actors as well as an extended bureaucracy. Findings on legal aspects indicate inconsistency in the implementation of legal provisions resulting in inefficient execution. The findings related to spatial planning indicate that discrepancies often exist between approved urban plan framework and the actual layout of regularized informal settlements. Unlike the widely accepted categorization of top-down or bottom-up intervention on informal settlements, the case of Addis Ababa indicates a more complex scenario that does not fully align with either model. The city‟s regularization implementation appears to reflect a middle planning approach that neither regularize nor negates the totality of informal settlements. Therefore, appropriate reforms regarding spatial planning, institutional restructuring and legal amendment are required within a framework of proactive urban planning in order to enhance the effectiveness of the implementation of the regularization process. Moreover, well-organized digital data enhances the overall informal settlement planning, efficiencies and thus smoothens the decision-making processes. Addressing these issues innovatively and holistically fosters inclusive and sustainable urban development that balances growth with social equity
Practices and Challenges of Integrated Infrastructure Planning between Addis Ababa and Sheger Cities, Ethiopia
(Addis Ababa University, 2026-06-01) Geremew Worku; Dagnachew Adugna
Rapid urbanization in Addis Ababa and the emergence and expansion of Sheger City have increased the demand for coordinated infrastructure development and service delivery. Although urbanization can improve access to infrastructure and promote economic growth when effectively planned and managed, fragmented and uncoordinated infrastructure planning can result in inadequate infrastructure provision, urban sprawl, traffic congestion, environmental degradation, and inefficiencies. These challenges motivated this study to investigate the practices and challenges of integrated infrastructure planning between the cities in Ethiopia. Specifically, the study aimed to examine existing practices of integrated infrastructure planning and the extent of coordination in infrastructure development, identify major institutional, financial, legal, technical, and operational challenges, and propose strategies for strengthening integrated infrastructure planning between the two cities. The study employed a mixed-methods research design, combining explanatory and descriptive approaches. Purposive sampling was used to select relevant experts and stakeholders. Primary data were collected through structured questionnaires; key informant interviews (KIIs), focus group discussions (FGDs), field observations, and document review. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, including frequencies and percentages, using SPSS and Excel, while spatial information was analyzed using GIS. Qualitative data from interviews and FGDs were analyzed through thematic and content analysis. Triangulation of data sources and methods was employed to strengthen the validity and reliability of the findings. The findings revealed major barriers to effective integrated infrastructure planning, including weak financial integration, inadequate policy direction, the absence of a robust legal framework, shortages of skilled manpower, and weaknesses in planning and design processes. Significant gaps were also identified in metropolitan governance, inter-city coordination, and stakeholder collaboration. These institutional and operational challenges contribute to disparities in integrated infrastructure planning between the two cities and constrain coordinated responses to metropolitan infrastructure needs. The study concludes that effective integrated infrastructure planning requires stronger institutional, legal, financial, technical, and participatory mechanisms. It recommends establishing a clear legal framework, creating metropolitan governance or coordinating institution, diversifying financing mechanisms, promoting public-private partnerships, strengthening community participation, and effectively utilizing technology and sustainable development principles. These measures can support coordinated, resilient, inclusive, and sustainable infrastructure development in the two cities and provide lessons for rapidly urbanizing metropolitan regions in Ethiopia and beyond.
Status of Honey Production in Hidabu Abote District of North Shoa Zone Oromia Regional State Ethiopia
(Addis Ababa University, 2025) Kiso Gari; Emana Getu
Beekeeping is a management of honeybee colonies for the production of honey, beeswax, royal jelly, bee venom and other pro ucts. Honey is the sweets substance produced by honeybees from the nectar of blossoms or secretions on living plants; which the bees collect, transform and store in honey combs. The study was conducted in Hidabu Abote District, which is located in North Shoa Zone of Oromia Regional State to study on status of honey production. The main objective of this study was to assess the factors that affect honey production in the study area and to give recommendations for mitigating the challenges in honey production practices in the study area. To address these objective questionnaires and interview were used to collect primary data. We employed a descriptive study design technique and data were gathered from 191 people via questionnaires and interviews using random and a purposive sampling procedure. The data were organized and analyzed using statistical software for the social sciences (SPSS, version 20). The result of the study showed that 60% of beekeepers used purely traditional beehives, 1.9% used transitional beehives, 3.1% used modern beehives, 10% used traditional and transitional beehives, 20% used traditional and modern beehives, and 5% used all three types of beehives. The result also showed that honey production activity is mainly undertaken by younger people. Furthermore, about 51.9% of the beekeepers had not formal education, and about 16.3% took informal adult education. In 2017 E.C., the average honey yield from one traditional beehive was less than 10kg, from one transitional beehive 16-25kg, and from one modern beehive 20- 30kg. Majority of the beekeepers (60%) managed their colonies by visiting and inspection monthly, with 15% doing so per two weeks. The major pests or predators that affecting honey production in the study area were 29.4% ants, 18.1% spiders, 16.3% birds, 15.6% wax moth, 12.5% lizard, and 8.1% Honey badger, respectively ranked 1st to 6th. Furthermore, the widespread use of agrochemicals (94.4%), lack of training (93.1%), and lack of professional support (95%) in beekeeping and the beekeeping activities of the district were dominated by the traditional system, resulted in low honey production, all had an impact on honey production
practices in the study area.
Determination of Selected Essential Metals in Wheat Triticum Aestivum Samples Collected from Shiretigray Ethiopia Using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy
(Addis Ababa University, 2025) Ashebrom Beletew; Merid Tessema
In this study, the concentrations of essential metals, copper, iron, zinc, and magnesium were determined in wheat grain samples collected from the local market in Shire, Ethiopia, using flame atomic absorption spectroscopy. Sample preparation involved washing, drying, grinding, sieving, and digestion with a mixture of nitric acid and perchloric acid under optimized conditions (15 ml acid mixture, 250°C, 3 hrs.). The average concentrations of Cu (7.72 ppm), Fe (43.27 ppm), Zn (28.43 ppm), and Mg (436.56 ppm) were assessed against permissible limits set by the World Food Programme (WFP), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and literature values. The concentrations of copper and magnesium were found to be well below both WFP and FAO limits, and aligned with literature values, indicating no risk of toxicity. Zinc concentration was slightly below the maximum permissible levels and consistent with typical literature ranges, suggesting adequate dietary contribution. However, the iron concentration exceeded the WFP permissible limit of 40 ppm, though it remained within the FAO upper limit of 50 ppm. This elevated level may reflect iron-rich soil or agricultural practices, and it raises potential concerns for individuals with iron metabolism disorders. Recovery studies yielded acceptable values—79.4% for Cu, 85.1% for Fe, 115.4% for Zn, and 112.18% for Mg—thereby confirming the reliability of the analytical method. Overall, the study concludes that wheat grains contain safe and nutritionally beneficial levels of Fe, Zn, and Mg. However, the borderline recovery observed for Cu, while potentially acceptable at lower concentration levels, indicates that further validation or method optimization may be necessary.
Mycotoxins Contaminations In Red Pepper Powder Produced At Households In Addis Ababa
(Addis Ababa University, 2025) Tsegaye Bunaro; Abebe Ayelign; Paulos Getachew
Red pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) is the most important world spice crop and the second largest consumed spice throughout the world, after black pepper. Apart
from its nutritional importance, red pepper has a huge economic value in many countries including Ethiopia. Despite the role of red pepper in nutrition, income
and national economy, it has been susceptible from the risks of mycotoxin contamination. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the level of mycotoxin in
powder red pepper produced at households in Addis Ababa. Sociodemographic information, knowledge and practices related to mycotoxin in red pepper from
124 households were collected using pretested questionnaires. One hundred twenty-four (124) red pepper powder samples at the time of proessing and after
six months storage at house holds in three subcites in Addis Ababa were collected. From the 124 samples collected, 40 composite red pepper powder
samples were produced both at baseline and after six months storage and the level of 26 mycotoxins were determined using a validated UHPLC-MS/MS method.
Out of 26, ten mycotoxins were detected in the red pepper powder samples both at baseline and after six months storage. The ten mycotoxins were detected in all the
samples at concentrations ranging from < LOD to 154 µg/kg and < LOD to 89.7 µg/kg at baseline after six months storage respectively. In this study, 92.5% of the
red pepper powder samples at baseline (during processing) and 75% after six months storage was contaminated with AFB1 above the EU limit and Ethiopian
standard of 5 µg/kg. Further, the mean levels of AFB1, AFB2, AFG1, and AFG2, Beauvericin, Enniatin B and Enniatin B1 decreased significantly after six months
of storage. This might be some spices, like garlic, ginger, and cardamom, have antioxidant and anti-fungal properties, which can potentially inhibit aflatoxin
production or degradation. Overall, mycotoxins (such as AFB1, AFB2, AFG1, and AFG2, Ochratoxin A, Beauvericin, Enniatin A1, Enniatin B and Enniatin B1)
were widespread contaminants of red pepper powder produced at households in the Addis Ababa intended for human consumption. Therefore, awreness creation
among stakeholders about proper preparation methods of red pepper powder and health impacts of mycotoxins is warranted.