Environmental and Development Studies
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Item Exploring The Relationship between Women’s Economic Empowerment and Fertility Intension in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia(Addis Ababa University, 2024-06) Biruk Kiflu; Muluget Bezabih (PhD)Women's empowerment is an important indication of societal transition, and it is a global priority because it has implications on population size, development, health, and education. Many women in developing country like Ethiopia had low economic empowerment and had also large population size. Therefore, exploring women economic empowerment and relationship with fertility intention could show the key controlling and balancing the economy and population size. The study aims to explore women’s economic empowerment and their fertility intention in Addis Ababa. Cross-section study was applied for the study. Double population proportion sample size was used to calculate the sample of 605. Two stage cluster sampling techniques were applied. Frequency, t-test, and binary and multiple regression were used in the analysis. The result show economically empowered women who marry between the ages of 28 and 37 have 7.1 times the fertility intention of married women aged 18 to 27 (p-value= 0.022) (AOD 95%CI: 7.1: 1.3-38.1). In contrast, those women economical empowered and those employed women had 95% low fertility intention among those who were not employed (pvalue 0.002) (AOD 95% CI: 0.05: 0.08-0.3). Economically empowered women face barriers to become high fertility intention the barriers were mentioned, mothers' lack of intention to carry a child and the perception that having a minimum number is more civilized. Age at marriage also effects on fertility intention, with women nearing menopause having a stronger intention to have children than those who are far from menopause in both economically and non-economically empowered women. To maintain fertility rates in other parts of the country, it is important to enhance women's economic empowerment through income-generating activities such as employment and trade. This can be done through various stakeholders, including government bodies, using Addis Abeba as an example.Item Assessment of Surface Water Potential and Demand of Upper Genale River Basin under the Impact of Climate and Land Use Land Cover Change, Ethiopia(Addis Ababa University, 2024-08) Mehari Shigute; Tena Alamirew (PhD); Adane Abebe (PhD)Understanding how climate and land-use changes affect water availability and demand in a watershed is crucial for planning and managing water resources effectively. This study addresses this need by examining the Upper Genale River Basin in Ethiopia. It investigates long-term trends in rainfall and temperature to inform agricultural water management. It also analyzes the impact of land use land cover (LULC) change on water flow and future climate change on water resources. Finally, the study assesses the potential for developing water resource systems and future water demand scenarios, providing valuable insights for adaptation and mitigation strategies in the basin. To achieve these objectives, long-term climate data from the Ethiopian National Meteorological Service Agency (NMA) were collected, and 30 m-resolution Landsat imageries were used to assess the impact on watershed hydrology and analyze the dynamics of LULC change. Future climate scenarios for the 2021-2050 and 2051-2080 time periods were developed using four different GCM-RCM combinations from the CORDEX-Africa projections under the RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5 scenarios. Additionally, to investigate water resource demand and allocation under current and future scenarios, socioeconomic data (population, livestock, irrigation) was collected from federal and regional sources. The Coefficient of Variation (CV), Standard Rainfall Anomaly (SRA), and Precipitation Concentration Index (PCI) were used to evaluate the observed climate characteristics of rainfall and temperature. In addition, the MannKendall test and Sen's slope estimator were used to assess the trend and magnitude of changes in rainfall and temperature. The Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model was calibrated and validated in SWAT-CUP using the sequential uncertainty fitting (SUFI-2) algorithm using monthly measured flow data. The model performed well, with a coefficient of determination (R2 ) > 0.74, NashSutcliffe efficiency (NSE) > 0.72, and percent bias (PBIAS) ranging from -5% to 5% for the calibration and validation periods. The annual, winter, spring, summer, and autumn rainfall variability in the basin was high, with coefficients of variation (CVs) of 20%, 89%, 30%, 45%, and 32%, respectively. The standardized rainfall anomalies indicated that the basin had a drier season than a wet season. The mean length growing season ranges in 43 to 79 days in Belg and 38 to 170 days in Kiremt seasons. Most rainfall stations showed no significant increasing trend in annual, summer, and autumn rainfall, but there was a decreasing but statistically insignificant trend in spring rainfall at all stations except Bensadaye, Bore, Telamokentise, and Yirba Muda. The analysis result also shows to minimize yield reduction and crop failure during spring and autumn supplementary irrigation is essential. For instance, maize and sorghum varieties require supplementary irrigation of up to 202 mm and 252 mm, XXII respectively. Over the past 30 years, annual and seasonal maximum and minimum temperatures in the basin have been increasing trend in most stations, and the landscape has changed significantly. Satellite images analyses show that settlements, cultivated land, and bare land have all increased in area from 0.16% to 0.28%, 24.4% to 47.1%, and 0.16% to 0.62%, respectively, while forests, shrublands, and grasslands have decreased from 29.6% to 13.5%, 23.9% to 19.5% and 21.8% to 18.9%, respectively, in the area. These changes in LULC have affected the water cycle in the basin, leading to increased runoff and total water yield, and decreased lateral and groundwater flow. Under the two RCPs, annual and seasonal precipitation is expected to decrease while temperatures rise during the 2030s (2021- 2050) and 2060s (2051-2080). The simulation result indicated a significant change in hydrological aspects. Under MPI-ESM-LR, EC-EARTH, and MIROC5 climate models, the study area's total water yield, surface runoff, ground waterflow, and lateral flow all decrease annually. However, all climate models (MPI-ESM-LR, EC-EARTH, CNRM-CM5, and MIROC5) show an increase in evapotranspiration of up to 8.1% due to an increase in temperatures. The decrease in rainfall and increase in temperatures will reduce annual water yield, surface runoff, ground waterflow, and lateral flow by up to 39.8%, 39%, 50%, and 40%, respectively, for the entire study basin. The observed and predicted annual and seasonal rainfall variability, as well as rising temperatures and LULC modification over the study area, have a significant impact on hydrological processes, resulting in droughts, flooding, and extreme water loss due to evaporation. These changes have consequences for agricultural and livestock production, domestic water supply, and municipal services. In addition, the WEAP model was used to evaluate water demand and allocation under different scenarios, the results predict a dramatic rise in water demand across the upper Genale River basin by 2050, driven by population growth, irrigation expansion, and the climate change. Water scarcity is expected to worsen, especially for irrigation, due to combined pressures from increasing consumption, potential climate change impacts, and limited water resources. As a result, natural resource managers, policymakers, and stakeholders in the study area will be better able to design and implement effective and sustainable land use planning and water resource management in order to deal with the ongoing impacts of climate, LULC change, and variability. It is also critical to develop strategic adaptation measures and a longterm approach to climate risk management.Item Groundwater Recharge Estimation Using Distributed Model (Wetspass): The Case of Afa-Selga Watershed, Abay Basin(Addis Ababa University, 2024-07) Hayal Derb; Taye Alemayehu (PhD)Understanding the spatial variability of groundwater recharge is crucial for managing and evaluating groundwater resources. In the Afa-Selga watershed Population growth necessitates increased groundwater resources, while water scarcity hinders sustainable development, especially for domestic and agricultural use. Historical rainfall, temperature and wind speed data is crucial for climate studies, water resource processes, and hydrological modeling. Four absolute homogeneity tests were used to investigate the homogeneity of annual rainfall data sets in five meteorological stations in the Afa-Selga watershed, revealing usefulness at a 95% significance level. By preparing inputs in the form of digital maps using remote sensing, GIS tools and processing of meteorological and hydrological observations, that were designed for estimation of the annual and seasonal groundwater recharge, surface runoff, and evapotranspiration amount in the Afa-Selga watershed using WetSpass modeling method, the model spatial and temporal characteristics allow spatially distributed quantification of water balance components. The primary objective of utilizing The WetSpass model was used to estimate annual and seasonal groundwater recharge, evapotranspiration, and surface runoff in the Afa-Selga watershed. Longterm hydro-meteorological and watershed bio-physical data were used for model input. The longterm average annual rainfall of 1246.6 mm was divided into 117.41 mm (9.42%) recharge which is equivalent to 68,039,095 m3 /yr. (579.5 km2), 948.9 mm (80.5%) evapotranspiration, and 125.87 mm (10.08%) surface runoff The hydrological water balance components for the Afa-Selga watershed are accurately simulated by the model. The model performed well, as shown by good statistical values for the correlation coefficient (R2 = 0.89) and Nash-Sutcliffe (NSE =0.84).Item Sustainability and Challenges of Urban Green Infrastructure Development and Management: The case of Adama City, Ethiopia(Addis Ababa University, 2024-06) Olani Gobena; Shemeles Damene (PhD)Urban green infrastructure (UGI) plays a crucial role in improving the environmental, economic, and social aspects of cities. However, cities and towns of developing countries, including Ethiopia in general and the study city are not properly making and implementing. In addition, the existing interventions are not supported by metrical evidence-based research. Therefore, this study focused on the sustainability of UGI development and management in Adama City. The study utilized both quantitative and qualitative approach to achieve its objectives. It gathered socio-spatial data from multiple sources and employed various techniques and tools for analysis. The research mapped and calculated the status of UGI (Urban Green Infrastructure) from 1991 to 2021 using city land use data available in ArcMap format. Additionally, socioeconomic data were collected from 372 households through a structured questionnaire, and the data was analyzed using descriptive statistics. The GIS-based analysis result revealed that UGI status over the past three structural plan periods was below the standard set for modern cities, as evidenced by a significant decline (by 63.07%) in UGI and in conversely, built-up areas expanded dramatically (by 574.91%). Green infrastructure coverage found below the national standard that covers only 5.6% of the total area of the city. The existing green infrastructure components per capita were also found to be 8.09 m2 , which is below the standard (15m2 ) set for cities. In relation to this, the majority of survey respondents reported a lack of amenities such as playgrounds (87.1%), sports fields (95.2%), or forests (78.2%), where all the survey respondents mentioned the amenities deficit is much below the standards set for modern cities. The key challenges to implementing sustainable urban green infrastructure include a lack of clear implementation strategies, insufficient prioritization and attention from local administration, limited community participation, lack of transparency, poor connectivity and integration among existing urban infrastructure, lack of public awareness, inadequate resources to implement the scanty plan, ineffective long-term management and maintenance plans, poor cooperation among different departments and offices, and difficulties in resource mobilization and policy enforcement. Therefore, to address these issues, decision-makers should take appropriate measures to improve the integration, accessibility, transparency, community involvement, and overall governance of urban green infrastructure development and management so as to ensure the long-term sustainability of greenery in the cityItem Human wildlife conflict a case of Gunegedo District in Somali National Regional State, Ethiopia(Addis Ababa University, 2024-01) Shibiru Tilahun; Aseffa Seyoum (PhD)Conflicts between humans and wildlife have existed since the beginning of human history. It occurs and increases wherever factors that increase the overlap between humans and wildlife those are habitat loss, human activity, affecting communities near wildlife habitat and essential livelihoods. Conflicts threaten people's welfare, health, safety and the economy. To mitigate conflicts caused by human-induced environmental change realistic tools and Methods are required. Ethiopia's diverse wildlife threated by anthropogenic and raise conflict. The purpose of this study was identifying the existence and determinant factors of human wildlife conflict in the pastoral community of SNRS in Gunagado district in the selected kebeles. Among 261HH 178 (68%) confirmed that the existence of human wildlife conflict in the study area. The incident confronting 83% of the case human induced. Among the attack on livestock 64% of the event causes death. The results indicate that 34.8 % conflict occurred weekly and 67% of the case was happening during dry season when movement was mandatory in searching of water and pasture. Habitat loss was indicating that 83% aggravate incidences for conflict. The trend of human wildlife conflict 86.4 % shows that as it was increasing from previous time. Hyena was the most responsible for attacking livestock followed by Cheetah and goats attack was ranked first 45% as the result shows followed by cattle. The result shows that households’ age, education status, livestock size and participating off farm activities are the most determinant factors for human wildlife conflict. It also shows that age, education status and participating off farm activities are the most determinant factors HH attitude towards wildlife conservation program. Improving household awareness, develop effective conservation strategies and alternative livelihood option helps to alleviate the challenge and betterment of household attitude towards wildlife conservation in the study area as well as throughout the region due to community having similar culture and livelihood option.Item Urban Vegetable Farmers’ Awareness on the Health Impacts of the Utilization of River Water for Vegetable Production and Environmental Protection Practices in Nefas Silk Lafto Subcity, Addis Ababa(Addis Ababa University, 2024-10) Solomon Abebaw; Aseffa Seyoum (PhD)The exponential growth of urban population size worldwide created a demand for sustainable solutions to address urban challenges such as food security, environmental pollution, and resource management. Urban river pollution poses significant health risks to vegetable farming. The contamination of rivers with pollutants from various sources negatively affects the quality and safety of vegetables leading to potential health hazards for both farmers and consumers. This particular study investigates the awareness level of urban vegetable farmers in Nefas Silk Lafto sub-city, Addis Ababa, regarding the health impacts of using polluted river water for irrigation and their implementation of environmental protection strategies. The study employed a survey research design. For data collection, structured questionnaires, interviews and field observations were used. In addition, secondary data sources such as books, articles, and legal documents were also reviewed. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics. The study found critical gaps in urban vegetable farmers' awareness and mitigation of health risks from polluted river water irrigation. While 62% acknowledged the water was polluted, only 13.1% knew the specific risks. Most farmers (86.9%) had not noticed negative impacts on production, and none were employing risk mitigation measures, due to lack of access to alternative water and financial constraints. Though 77.4% knew of relevant regulations, only 60.6% believed there were sufficient government policies to address urban river pollution impacts. Paradoxically, the farmers expressed belief in existing policy guidelines, yet failed to implement sustainable environmental protection strategies. The researcher observed the river was highly polluted, but farmers continued to use it without treatment. The study found a significant knowledge gap among urban vegetable farmers regarding the health risks of using polluted water for irrigation, with the majority lacking awareness of these potential hazards. Farmers did not implement any mitigation measures, despite most not observing negative impacts on crop quality or yields. While many farmers were aware of environmental regulations, they did not effectively adopt sustainable practices due to barriers like limited access to alternative water sources and financial constraints. The recommendations call for improving farmer training and awareness, facilitating stakeholder collaboration, and providing support to enable the adoption of environmentally-friendly irrigation and water management approaches.Item Characterization of Major Alluvial Aquifers of Ethiopia and Determination of their Vulnerability to Climate and Land cover Changes(Addis Ababa University, 2024-06) Tesema Kebede; Tenalem Ayenew (PhD)Water is an essential resource for the sustainability of life. Goals for access to clean water, the growth of the energy sector, and food security can all be met with the help of climate-resilient groundwater management. Nonetheless, not much study has been done to evaluate Ethiopia's groundwater resources. The purpose of this study was to examine the physical attributes of Ethiopia's principal alluvial aquifers and determine how sensitive they were to changes in the country's climate and land cover. Geographic information systems (GIS), remote sensing, the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) method of multicriteria decision-making (MCDM), and machine learning algorithms (MLAs) were all utilized in the first segment. The hydro-geological, climatic, and land use land cover (LULC) characteristics were explored as potential influencing variables for groundwater in the study regions. Following that, the stable isotope and geochemical analysis were employed to better understand the groundwater and the underlying geological components. Examination of aquifer vulnerability using a modified DRASTIC index was the third technique implemented. The study's other main emphasis was the effect of changing climate and land cover on groundwater. Independent research on LULC and climate change was also conducted in this part. Lastly, the study looked at how groundwater is affected by changes in climate and land cover together. According to the groundwater potential analysis, 81.93% of Fafen-Jerer, 22.35% of Gambela, and 17.38% of Shinile are classified as low and very low potential zones. The high and very high groundwater potential zone covers 4.32% of Fafen-Jerer, 55.52% of Gambela, and 64.8% of the Shinile sub-basin. The key criteria highly influencing groundwater potential in the research areas are geomorphology, rainfall, and geology. The geochemical analysis indicates that the predominant cation and anion concentrations are Ca2+ > Na+ > Mg2+ > K+ and SO4 2- > HCO3 - > Cl-> NO3 - respectively. The groundwater in the study sites is slightly alkaline and quite hard. Mixed (Na-Mg-Ca) water is the most prevalent water type kind in the research area. The primary hydrochemical process is the interaction between rocks and water. The isotope analysis revealed that groundwater samples of hydrogen and oxygen isotopic compositions were mostly concentrated close to the meteoric water line. The results demonstrate that precipitation has been found to have more enriched isotope compositions than groundwater at both locations (Dire Dawa and Jigjiga). The LULC's findings show that croplands have reduced, whereas forests have increased significantly in coverage in the western catchment (WC). The LULC shift for the eastern catchment (EC) indicates an increase in area coverage of grasslands, croplands, and urban areas, XVIII and a reduction in shrublands, and barren. Climate research reveals that climate change will be a major concern for water supplies in the studied regions. Over the reference period (1981-2010), the WC and EC had annual temperature rises of 1.5 and 0.06 oC, and annual precipitation declines of 15.73 and 3.68 mm/year respectively. These changes in these core climatic parameters continue to affect future cases. According to the UNEP aridity index (AI) and De Martone aridity index (DMI) results the aridity indices also followed a downward trend for the past periods. These changes shift the climate characters from humidity conditions to semi-arid and arid climates. According to the study, the effect of climatic change is more pronounced in the WC than in the EC. The results of the current period's climate change show that it is particularly robust in the study regions' dry corners. The effect of climate on groundwater will be pronounced in these regions by the end of 2070. The outputs of this research should provide a significant understanding of Ethiopian alluvial aquifer zones for future studies in paleoclimatology, hydrogeology, meteorology, and geomorphology. The study's findings might be useful for water resource and environmental management, as well as policy and decision-making.Item Examining the Attitude and Perception of Stakeholders on Sustainable Urban Green Infrastructure Development in Addis Ababa.(Addis Ababa University, 2024-06) Manaye Mageso; Ephrem Assefa (PhD)Urban green infrastructure development is a strategic approach that requires the harmonious concept, attitude and perception of stakeholders to footprint sustainability. However, the urban green infrastructure (UGI) faces challenges in implementation either knowingly or unknowingly. This study aimed to examine the concept, attitude and perception of stakeholders towards sustainable urban green infrastructure development in Addis Ababa. Pertinent data gathered using survey questionnaire from 121 respondents were processed through SPSS version 29 and analyzed with the help of descriptive statistics. Moreover, qualitative data collected from 26 key informant interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis. The results reveal that respondents stimulate principles of UGI and perceive the existence and benefits with low level incorporation in current practices. The current urban planning process failed to consider stakeholder perspectives when developing or expanding urban green infrastructure projects. Furthermore, most of the stakeholders have positive attitude towards UGI Multi-functionalities of UGI especially green accessibility is incorporated in low level in current practices. The study also found that the major challenges associated with UGI are limited public education about the benefits of urban green infrastructure followed by lack of funding/resources, technical difficulties in implementation, lack of political will/support for such initiatives and resistance from local communities or stakeholders in the implementation. To curb these problems, research recommends respective authorities or responsible organs to advance the information/communication to the public regarding the main principles to increase the concept/ knowledge of urban green infrastructure to enhance from stimulation level to determination and internalization.Item Gender Transformative Approach for Climate Change Adaptation in Ethiopia: A Case Study on Gender Model Family(Addis Ababa University, 2024-06) Yebaherlay Merkeb; Belay Simane (Professor)Climate change is a global phenomenon that poses a significant challenge to people's livelihoods worldwide. Ethiopia, in particular, stands out as one of the most susceptible nations to the effects of climate change, lacking the necessary capacity to effectively respond. Climate resilience pertains to the construction of systems and practices capable of adapting to and enduring the impacts of climate change, which frequently have a disproportionate effect on vulnerable communities. When examining the impact of climate change on women, numerous studies underscore the role of discriminatory norms and regulations, women's socioeconomic status, and restricted mobility in rendering them more susceptible to the effects of climate change. The general objective of this study is to analyze how the Gender Transformative Approach (GTA) has improved the resilience of women in Ethiopia by examining the implementation of a GTA program called Gender Model Family (GMF) in Ethiopia. The data collection format includes key informant interviews, group discussions, and couple and family interviews, as summarized below. A full description of the methodology is also available in Atmadja and Beyene (2024).The sampling technique used in this study is non-probability sampling because it involves purposive selection of specific villages and individuals to gain detailed, contextual insights into the impact of the GMF program, without aiming for generalizable results across a broader population. The methodology employed in this study combines thematic coding, narrative analysis, and descriptive analysis to offer a comprehensive exploration of the research topic. This approach ensures a deep and nuanced understanding of the data, contributing valuable insights to the field. The findings reveal that the GMF program fosters equitable decision-making and shared responsibilities among men and women across various regions and decision areas. In contrast, non-GMF participation tends to favor men having more influence, albeit with regional and gender differences. GMF participants strongly support discussions between men and women and shared responsibilities, unlike non-GMF participants. Overall, the analysis underscores the positive impact of the GMF program on gender dynamics, promoting fairness in work distribution, decision-making, and income opportunities. These findings align with broader research, highlighting the critical role of gender-sensitive programs in transforming traditional gender roles and fostering economic and social well-being within households. And also improves resilience of women by improving equitable decision making, shared responsibilities among men and women and access and control over different resources.Item Urban Fire Resilience in Addis Ababa: A Case Study in Arada Sub-City(Addis Ababa University, 2021-10) Yemesrach Yichilal; Tesfaye Zeleke (PhD); Messay Mulugeta (PhD)The study examines the coping capacities and setbacks of urban households in Addis Ababa, specifically in Arada Sub-city. The research uses interviews, focus group discussions, and secondary data from the FDRMC, Arada Sub-city Administration, and Central Statistics Agency. It reveals that fire coping capacities and setbacks coexist, with administrative problems, lack of resources, public awareness, traffic jams, and a lack of a unified fire code hindering efforts. Some parts of Arada Sub-city are more vulnerable due to the frequency of fires in the last five years and the quality of house structures. Fire vulnerability varies at different times of the year, with windy and dry seasons being most fire-vulnerable, while Belg and Kiremt are more resilient due to wetter and more humid weather. The study concludes by identifying two aspects: coping capacities and setbacks to resiliency exhibited by urban households in the face of fire risks. Major pro-active urban fire vulnerabilities include a mismatch between current DRM policy and practice, high population density and overcrowding, unchecked urbanization, unsuitable urban planning, and sub-standard housing. Competing phase setbacks include misalignment of regulations and existing policy, high population density, overcrowding, lack of resources, and invading established Police parameters.Item Willingness to Pay For Improved Health Care Waste Management in Addis Ababa: Application of Contingent Valuation Method(Addis Ababa University, 2024-06) ZenebeTefera; Aseffa Seyoum (PhD)Health care waste (HCW) has drawn attention from all over the world due to the risk it poses to the public health. Of the waste produced by health care activities,85% is classified as general waste, and the remaining trashes hazardous due to its potential for being radioactive, poisonous, or contagious. The general objective of the study was to estimate willingness to pay(WTP) for improved health care waste management practice among selected public health facilities in Addis Ababa. To meet the study objective, a cross sectional, descriptive study design through mixed approach was used. 300 respondents which were selected through accidental sampling technique were participated in the study. Contingent valuation model was utilized to estimate the environmental valuation. Moreover, for the analysis of the study results, Logit model of analysis was used. The analytical application SPSS version 26 was used to analyze both descriptive and inferential statistics. The findings of the study revealed that among the total number of respondents, 240(80%) were found to be willing to pay for the proposed improved health care waste management service. And gender, marital status, educational status, family size, monthly income of the respondents, level of satisfaction and awareness about the effects of current health care waste on health were found to have significant association with respondents WTP for the improved health care waste management service. Even though there are efforts to tackle the effects of health care waste in the public health facilities under study, there is a lot to be done .the study recommends ……………….Item Assessing Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices on Household Solid Waste Management and Associated Factors: The Case of Lafto Sub City, Addis Ababa(Addis Ababa University, 2023-10) Beamlak Hailu; Belay Simane (Professor)This research investigates the factors influencing solid waste management practices among households residing near the Mekanisa River in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Inadequate waste management is a growing concern in developing countries, particularly in peri-urban areas, where rapid population growth often outpaces the development of essential infrastructure and services. This study aims to bridge the knowledge gap regarding household waste management behaviors in these communities. Employing a mixed-method approach, the research utilizes a structured questionnaire to assess the Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAP) of 200 households surrounding the Mekanisa River. The questionnaire was developed based on existing KAP instruments used in similar studies and adapted to the context of Addis Ababa. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with key informants, including representatives from local government agencies responsible for waste management and waste collection service providers, to gain deeper insights into existing policies, infrastructure challenges, and community engagement initiatives. Additionally, a literature review provided valuable background information on solid waste management practices in Ethiopia and relevant theoretical frameworks. The data analysis involved descriptive statistics to examine the distribution of KAP scores among households. Chi-square tests were employed to identify statistically significant relationships between KAP variables and socio-demographic factors (education level, family size, years living in the area), behavioral factors (reported knowledge and attitudes), and potential social and economic factors gleaned from the interviews. The findings of this study are expected to contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of household waste management practices in peri-urban areas of Addis Ababa. By identifying the key factors influencing KAP, the research can inform targeted interventions and policy changes. Improved waste management practices are essential to mitigate environmental and health risks associated with improper waste disposal, particularly in communities residing near waterways.Item Marketing Strategy of Star rated hotels towards domestic Tourism Since The Outbreak of The COVID-19 and Internal Conflict: A Case Study in Addis Ababa(Addis Ababa University, 2023-10) Bethelehem Damte; Shiferaw Muleta (PhD)The target market’s needs are continually shifting, so it is important to stay up to date with trends and modify business strategies accordingly. One way to reach a customer during an unstable time is by adapting a marketing strategy to meet their needs. The hospitality industry is the supplier of services for tourism. The growth of the star-rated hotel industry in Addis Ababa is likely to continue to rise as demand for hotel rooms is increasing, tourist spending is rising, and the consumer need for opulence and uniqueness endures. Prior to the pandemic, the client of 5-star hotels were primarily international travelers and business visitors. Due to COVID-19, their travel has been restricted, and the ongoing internal conflict has further exacerbated the situation. A number of guests in these hotels have been affected. Hoteliers are therefore seeking alternative marketing strategies, such as targeting domestic or local customers. In response to the resumption of tourism, researchers have suggested that new travel patterns may emerge, such as regional tourism, health tourism, and rural tourism. Previous research on the impact of COVID-19 on tourism has not fully considered the potential benefits of regional travel as an alternative form of tourism. This research aim is to fill this gap by examining the marketing strategy of star rated hotels towards domestic tourists since the outbreak of covid 19 and internal conflict a case study of Addis Ababa. The finding of the study was all seven hotels found in Ethiopia have felt the effects of this decrease in demand, as fewer domestic tourists are booking rooms. This has resulted in reduced occupancy rates, decreased revenue, and lower profits. To address this concern, each hotel has had to adapt its marketing strategy to try to attract domestic tourists and maintain its business.Item Impact of Internal Conflicts on Tourism and Hospitality Industry in Ethiopia: The Perspective of Hotels and Tour Operators in Addis Ababa(Addis Ababa University, 2023-07) Amanuel Abebe; Shiferaw Muleta (PhD)War is the major factor that hinders the pace of the tourism industry more than any other factors. Just before November 4, 2020, the country was in a comparatively good tourism movement as it had implemented the safety protocol for the pandemic. It is believed that internal conflicts affect not only the tourism sector but also every aspect of a country. This thesis focuses on assessing the impact of the recent internal conflicts on the stakeholders of tourism businesses in Addis Ababa. The study employed descriptive research design in line with mixed research approach. Questionnaire and interview were instruments used to collect primary data. For the questionnaire 71managers of tourism stakeholder, the tour operators and the hotel industry, and 6 key informants for in-depth interviews were selected using purposive sampling method in order to address the objective of the study. To produce statistical outputs, the collected quantitative data were processed using SPSS(Statistical Package for Social Science) version 25 and analyzed using descriptive statistical tools such as frequency, percentage, mean analysis and the Pearson’s correlation. The qualitative data were also analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings of the study indicated that internal conflict has negatively impacted the tour operators and the hotel industry in Addis Ababa. The harmonious relation among employees was negatively affected. The stakeholders of the study area have faced potential political threat and banned to give service for some days. The findings have revealed that the internal conflict has created a negative image to the tourism sector of the whole country. Tourists were not happy and feeling comfortable during the conflict. Many have cancelled pre scheduled visits. Tourists who were in Ethiopia during the start of the conflicts could always have a negative image about the tourism of country. In case of promotion, the tourism stakeholders have done nothing to promote the tourism sector and get the reputation back. They have faced economic problems. And finally, the political instability is hindering the stakeholders from using all the opportunities all over the country. Hence, they are making no business interactions among stakeholders in other parts. Therefore, the researcher suggested the government, the stakeholders and even individual citizen to work on keeping the reputation of the tourism sector and improving the social interaction and peace of the country.Item Urban Expansion and Surface Water Pollution: The Case of Beressa River at Debre Birhan City, in Amhara Regional State, Ethiopia.(Addis Ababa University, 2024-06) Ashenafi Mihretie; Shimeles Damene (PhD)Urbanization is one of the main drivers of surface water quality loss, which implies a transition from water to land. However, it is still unclear how urban areas affect the spatial pattern of surface water quality loss. Here, surface water quality loss as a function of distance from urban areas was studied across the Beressa River in Debre Birhan city, the capital of North Shoa Zone of Amhara Region. An exponential distance-decay model was employed. The research results provided a new and deeper understanding of the spatial influence of urban areas on surface water quality loss, which could be effectively integrated in the definition of sustainable strategies for urbanization, water management, and surface water restoration, focused on both human and environmental water needs. In addition, reduction in imperviousness was found to be a suitable strategy to adapt to these scenarios by limiting the construction of new impervious areas and decreasing the existing areas. This information can be further utilized to develop future designs, which in turn should make these systems more resilient to future changes in urbanization. In the case of the Beressa River and its surroundings, the study's primary objective were to assess the impact of urban growth on surface water quality using water quality parameters (such as PH (highest recorded at WSP-3=7.74 and 7.66 in wet and dry season respectively), BOD5 (records 88.50 at WSP-4 and 98.00 at WSP-3 in wet and dry seasons respectively), COD (results were recorded 107.00 at WSP-4 in wet season and 84.07 at WSP-3 in dry season), TP(water sample result were recorded highly at WSP-3=2.44.00 and 0.74 at WSP-4 in wet and dry season respectively), Cr ( high records were 1.67 at WSP-4 and 1.34 at WSP-3 in wet and dry seasons respectively), and FC ( records 1,800 and 1,500 at the same WSP in wet and dry season respectively)) analysis and urban development trend analysis. Water sample analysis were done based on sampling and laboratory procedures and the result indicated that the river was worsen polluted and dangerous for living organisms in the surrounding. Based on the research results Beresa River was polluted by pollutants discharging from city municipality wastes, industries waste discharging to the environment, and from agrochemicals along the river watershed areas in wet and dry seasons.Item Assessment of Park-Community Relationship for Sustainable Development: The Case of Entoto Park, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia(Addis Ababa University, 2024-06-06) Abdulselam Nezif; Ephrem Assefa (PhD)The rationale behind this research is to examine the park-community relationship in Entoto Park, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. It tried to assess the perception of the local community towards Entoto park and investigate community-park relationship at Entoto Park, and finally to discover the major challenges associated with the park-local community nexus at Entoto Park. The study used mixed research approaches, and data was gathered using a questionnaire, interview, and focus group discussion from the 210 respondents. Survey data were processed using SPSS version 25 and analyzed through descriptive statistics for quantitative data from 210 respondents and thematic analysis was conducted for qualitative data’s of focus group discussant’s. The findings show that there exist a moderate and positive relationship between the park and community. Moreover, the community has a positive perception about Entoto Park. The major challenges associated with the community-park relationship are the lack of community participation platforms in Entoto Park, the lack of initiation by the local community in the participation of tourism development in the park, and the limited form of community participation in tourism development. Based on the findings, the research provides recommendation for PAs, Government bodies and Tourism stakeholders some of them are raising awareness for local, and develop community-based tourism product development to benefit locals, participate locals in the planning process, and implement collaborative governance and a benefit-based management system.Item Sustainable Development and Water Management in Koga Scheme, Ethiopia: A Triple Bottom Line and Wedding Cake Framework(Addis Ababa University, 2024-06) Abebe Belay; Belay Simane (PhD); Ermias Teferi (PhD)The aim of the study is to analyze the sustainability of water management approaches in relation to sustainable development. Specifically, the study focus on the Koga scheme in Merawi town, Amhara Regional State. The problem that this study seeks to address is the challenge of achieving sustainable development in the Koga scheme. This includes measures that make sense from one point of view in Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) mitigation measures may reduce the livelihood viability or resource access of other. Recognizing that not all adaptations are good has drawn attention to the need for sustainable adaptation measures, as well as defining which types of adaptation are desirable or not. Moreover, the water management such as Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) may not be effectively translated into good management that meets sustainable development aspirations. The data sources for this study include a combination of primary and secondary sources. Primary data sources include survey with key experts involved in the Koga scheme using snowball sampling, and household survey using stratified random sampling. Secondary data sources include hydro-climatic variables such as temperature, rainfall and runoff. The main methods used include technical inefficiency estimation, convergence theory, and scenario development, various nonparametric Mann-Kendall (MK) estimation techniques, elasticity estimation, sustainability analysis techniques such as the sustainable development analysis grid (GADD), and the multicriteria decision analysis using mDSS software. Even though there are some verifiable indicators for the implementation of Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) principles in Koga scheme, the sustainability assessment of IWRM is questioned. The six sustainable development dimensions (economic, social, ecological, ethical, cultural and governance dimensions) were not taken into consideration. Twenty sustainable development goals must be addressed immediately, and ninety-nine goals necessitate less immediate action. The Koga office and other stakeholders should take improvement measures for 119 out of 166 goals. Unlike the sustainability assessment of IWRM, the Environmental Management Plan (EMP) is promising to support sustainable development when the long term perspective xii of synergy is taken into account. Except for the planting of forest seedlings, the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) recommended measures in EMP were progressing quite well. The analysis showed planting of forest seedlings came out top as a sustainable measure in most cases. It may be the only way to accomplish sustainable development when the environment serves as a foundation to other pillars in some circumstances. The fact that farmers are primarily planting eucalyptus trees, and they were spotted turning fertile land into eucalyptus raises concerns. These practices may have negative implications for sustainable development, primarily due to the potential environmental damage caused by eucalyptus trees and the potential threat to food security. In terms of balancing the three pillars, except for training and extension services for farmers and cooperative organizations all measures maintained imbalance ratings across all three pillars. The various measures perform best on economic criteria while poor on environmental criteria. Despite a focus on economic sustainability, household perceptions of its relevance to overall sustainability, and orientation to it, result in a low level of economic sustainability measured through technical efficiency. Management inefficiency results in the wastage of around 60 percent of resources, posing a significant threat to future resource availability and sustainable production. The more than predicted positive impact on income may have been due to increased inputs and unsustainable practices, rather than efficient resource utilization. This can be misleading when determining farming feasibility, as long-term viability relies on efficient resource utilization rather than income. Huge wasted resources; significant regional differences; efficiency improvement more advantageous than doubling input in some areas (eg. Teleta block in the command area); and negative elasticity of output in some inputs, such as seed per hectare and land size, all necessitate planning to improve efficiency to the frontier and make the areas comparable in terms of technical efficiency. It requires 9.42 percent growth to achieve optimum efficiency/optimmum economic sustainability over ten years while over a five-year period, the economic sustainability catch-up effect with the most economically sustainable area requires a growth differential of 2.11 - 9.45 percent. The convergence targets are not over ambitious plans. More importantly, the local government should strive for maximum efficiency in order to develop a better long-term strategy to close the economic sustainability gap. The other aspects of sustainability of the most apparent indications of climate change in the area surrounding the Merawi station, where the scheme is based, are the rising maximum and average annual temperatures. Rainfall and runoff were highly concentrated during the main rainy season, implying a longer dry seasons. There was high runoff variability; even Koga has more runoff variability than Gilgel Abbay. Temperature has a greater influence on runoff than rainfall, with the Koga watershed being more sensitive than the Gilgel Abbay watershed in most circumstances. All these hydroclimatic conditions endangers the future water demand and supply balance for irrigation activities. The fact that farmers prioritize current production over future; adaptation and mitigation measures orientation at the household level was mostly for economic gains; economic objective has the relative importance of pillar for overall sustainability to farmers; and farmers’ perception related to the primary motive for crop type selection was profit along with their technical efficiency level perception have negative implications for efficient resource use, which might jeopardize future resource availability and impede overall sustainable development efforts.Item Socio Economic and Environmental Role of Integrated Watershed Management Projects: Evidence from Ziway Lake Sub Watershed, Dugda Woreda, Oromiya National Regional State, Ethiopia(Addis Ababa University, 2023-12) Abebe Megersa; Shimeles Damene (PhD)In Ethiopia, one of the main environmental and socioeconomic problems is land degradation. Numerous watershed-based soil and water conservation (SWC) initiatives have been implemented nationwide, including in the Or Omiya region , in order to address this issue. Although the SWC interventions using watershed approach were undertaken at wider scale and intensity, the role of the practices for socioeconomic and environmental are not sufficiently explored. Therefore, the objective of the study socioeconomic and environmental role of integrated watershed management project in Ziway Lake sub-watershed, Dugda Woreda of Oromiya Region. The study employed a mixed research method using qualitative and quantitative. A survey of 140 households produced the quantitative data, and field observation, nine key informants, and eight focus group discussions (consisting of 10 participants, 5 males and 5 females each) produced the qualitative data. As part of integrated watershed development and management projects, the majority of respondents (95%) used physical and biological soil and water conservation practices, according to an analysis of the quantitative and qualitative data. The study showed that the interventions improved the socioeconomic and environmental situation in the study sites. Results of the study also indicated that the income of the households was higher as compared to their previous livelihood. In terms of the environmental roles of integrated watershed development and management projects data results indicated the improvement of agriculturally productivity, increased animal feed as well as positive environment change through planting trees, soil conservation, and increase of surface water harvesting that in turn used for small scale irrigation. Accumulation of soil behind soil bond on farmland was also observed. Thus, in carrying out an integrated program for the development and management of watersheds, entities like the Ethiopian Ministry of Water and Energy, the Ministry of Agricultural Office, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) must increase the scope of this type of project practice and promote a quicker and more widespread adoption of methods for conserving soil and water.Item The Vulnerability of Livelihood to Climate Variability over the Jema Watershed, the Upper Blue Nile River Basin, North-Western Ethiopia(Addis Ababa University, 2016-06) Mintesinot Azene; Belay S. (PhD)Standardizing and integrating biophysical and socioeconomic components of livelihood is one of the challenges in vulnerability to climate variability studies. This study investigated the spatial variability in the level of livelihood vulnerability to climate variability from the point of view of three interdependent factors: exposure to climate variability, agroecosystem sensitivity to climate variability, and adaptive capacity. The study was conducted in the four agroecological zones of Jema Watershed, Lake Tana Sub-Basin, Ethiopia. Climate data (rainfall and temperature) were extracted from satellite based reconstructed meteorological observation, and subjected to geospatial analysis using ArcGIS. Focus group discussion was employed to generate data on farmers’ perception of climate variability and change. The agroecosystem sensitivity data (soil texture, terrain, land capability class, and land use land cover type, crop and livestock diversity) were collected from field survey and satellite imagery that were subjected to geospatial statistical analysis. The soil sample was collected from farm plots using hand-auger and core-sampler. Land use-land cover was analyzed employing a supervised classification method. Land capability class was evaluated using USDA’s land capability classification guideline as a reference. The socioeconomic data were collected from household farmers using structured questionnaire and then analyzed using ANOVA statistics. In all cases, proportionate stratified sampling technique was used. Ultimately, the summary of these results were analyzed by using IPCC’s Livelihood Vulnerability Index. Findings indicated that the inter-annual variability of monthly total rainfall decreased towards west of the Sub-Alphine agroecological zone of the watershed though the difference was not statistically significant. The variability of the duration and on-set/off-set of rainy season were higher in the eastern part. In the downstream, Moist Cool agroecological zone, the texture of soil was found to be clayey, and crop and livestock diversity was observed. The size of the cultivable land decreases towards the upstream. The aggregate standardized values of exposure to climate variability, adaptive capacity and agroecosystem sensitivity to climate variability was in the ranges of 0.408 to 0.525, 0.233 to 0.277 and 0.381 to 0.460, respectively, whereas the aggregate standardized value of livelihood vulnerability ranged from 0.052 to 0.126. To conclude, the upstream experienced larger values of exposure to climate variability and agroecosystem sensitivity to climate variability, whereas the downstream was found to have higher adaptive capacity; and the degree of vulnerability decreased towards the downstream. Except adaptive capacity, this spatial variation in vulnerability and its factors among the agroecological zones were explained by a spatial linear trend. Yet, in all cases, the groups’ mean difference was not statistically significant. More annual crop cultivation can be enhanced in the downstream, whereas more perennial crop cultivation, livestock rearing, and forestry in the upstream. Off-farm and nonfarm adaptation strategies should be enhanced particularly in the upstream. Meanwhile, maladaptation practices like encroachment into steep slopes and changing potential cropland into plantation land should be controlled by enhancing bylaws and that could foster the enforcement of scientific land use.Item Assessment of E-Marketing Practices of Star- Rated Hotels in Addis Ababa(Addis Ababa University, 2022-07) Seid Ali; Shiferaw Muleta (PhD)This research was aimed to Assessments of E-marketing Practice of Star- Rated Hotels in Addis Ababa. However, the existing empirical evidence in contrast with more settled theoretical evidence show the mixed result that the study got. The study employed a mixed-approach & descriptive design to answer the questions and achieve the research objectives. The information was obtained from sample respondents through questionnaires. As the sampling technique was implemented the study used two stage cluster sampling. The quantitative data were analyzed using frequency, percentage and tabulation by using SPSS 26 version. And hotels conduct e-marketing in a way of creating a web site. The Lack of privacy is challenging in practicing E-marketing. In addition there is insecurity (information abuse) as the challenge. Regarding to prospects even though there is government IT and E‐Commerce Policy, Laws, Rules and Support are in place. Meanwhile, IT and Telecommunication Infrastructure Costs are not affordable. In addition there is no general IT Knowledge and Culture in star rated hotel Community (including customers). Moreover, there is unavailability of resources and environmental opportunity. So, the study finally proposed are commendation it is better for the hotel industry to snatch out opportunity rather than seeking for it to minimize the adverse effect in absence of prospects for e-marketing. Finally the overall finding summary conclusion and recommendation indicated that the Ethiopia E-marketing system, works and implementation in the case of the starrated hotels still lack advanced, quality, various options to meet the desired goals of international hotel standards and satisfying its customer.