Browsing by Author "Zerihun, Azmeraw"

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    Livelihood Coping Mechanisms of Women Engaged in the Informal Sector Amid Covid-19 in Adama City, Ethiopia
    (Addis Ababa University, 2021-11) Zerihun, Azmeraw; Mulugeta, Messay PhD
    The main objective of this study was to examine livelihood coping mechanism of women engaged in the informal sector amid COVID-19 Adama city. Cross-sectional survey and mixed research approach has been used. Accordingly, 138 women engaged in the informal sector were identified from three kebeles using multi-stage sampling technique. In doing so, quantitative data were collected from women engaged in the informal sector using structured questionnaire and qualitative data were collected using focus group discussion, key informant interview and observation. It was found that all respondents have reported to have disproportionately impacted by adverse impacts such as reduced income, quit self-employment, displaced or went/ traveled out of city to seek support of their loved ones or search job, quite schooling, lost job/employment and evacuated from the house they rented. Besides, migrant women engaged in the informal sector were more impacted by the adverse impacts of the pandemic. The finding revealed that the women engaged in the informal sector have very limited livelihood assets such as of human capital, physical capital, financial capital. Whereas social capital was the most used livelihood asset amid COVID-19. However, natural capital was missing. They have used a combination of two or more livelihood coping mechanisms such as assistances from family or relatives, involved paid children in labor, sold their assets, used their savings and borrowed cash, traveled in search of work or assistance, pension and urban safety in order of importance. It was also found that significant majority of the respondents did not receive assistances from formal institutions such as government and non-governmental organizations amid COVID-19. To the contrary, the majority have received assistances such as food, cash, paid work and psychosocial support from extended family or relatives amid pandemic. Drawing on the results, the author recommended devising of interventions mechanism customized to context of the informal sector and women such as social security packages to be triggered amid shocks like COVID-19 such as in kind (food item) or cash assistances or transfers by government. In addition, government should device or adopt policies help to provide relief measures such as utility bill suspension in which the government pays utility bills such as water and electricity for private house renters who gives relief house rent fee for in the informal sector amid shocks. Besides, the government should device financial assistances and micro financing tailored to women engaged in the informal sector so as to enable them engage in small and micro business enterprises. Furthermore, the non-governmental organizations should design feasible projects or programs that would help the women engaged in the informal sector amid shock like COVID-19 and should also device mechanism to strongly monitor and evaluate whether the selection of target beneficiaries are as per the criteria and support provided has brought about the required change on the livelihood/living standard of project target group. Moreover, the local government should have completed the record of or data base of women engaged in the informal sector in all kebeles of the city. Above all, the local government should conduct need assessment of women engaged in the informal sector in city and provide vocational, life skill trainings like saving and provision of space for work etc. Lastly, the researchers should conduct comprehensive study on informal sector in Adama city and in Ethiopia in general.
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    Problem and Coping Strategy of Street Children, the Case of Nekemte Town, Ethiopia
    (Addis Ababa University, 2015-11) Zerihun, Azmeraw; Hagos, Ashenafi (PhD)
    This study is conducted with the objective of assessing and describing problems street children are facing on the street and coping strategies they use to deal with problems in Nekemete town. The survey design is descriptive cross sectional survey. Accordingly 152 street children are identified from three Sub-Cities for the study using cluster sampling technique. By doing so, quantitative data is collected from street children using survey questionnaire and qualitative data is collected using in-depth key informant interviewee and observation. The majority 73.7 % respondents were males. The age ranges of the survey participants were 13-18 and out of which 45.4 % of the total were aged 17-18. The majority street children are of-street children. More percentage of females were living of the street compared to male respondents. Street children in Nekemete town are exposed to various problems on the street which include luck of basic needs (food, cloth and shelter), health problems, abuse (physical, sexual and verbal), psychological and social problems, vulnerability to engage in crime, luck of water and sanitation, and substance abuse. Furthermore, they utilize various strategies that range from acceptable to unacceptable to deal with the problems. The problems they face were more severe on younger and female street children compared to male and older ones .Likewise coping strategy they use differ by sex and across age group