Analysis of Humanitarian Assistance Interventions in Droughtprone Areas of Waghimra Zone of Amhara Regional State from Rights-based Approach: The Case of Sekota Woreda
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Date
2021-04
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Humanitarian assistance has been pervasive throughout response and recovery actions to various
disasters in human history, yet the modern concept of humanitarian assistance has only emerged
since 20th century. Humanitarian practitioners and organizations are seeking effective and efficient
means of minimizing the tremendous losses suffered from disaster strikes. On the basis of the shift
over the quest for effective means of humanitarian assistance interventions, this study is aimed to
analyze humanitarian assistance interventions from right based approach and taking as a case study
of Sekota Woreda. The case study was selected because of the continuity of humanitarian assistance
interventions for the last several decades; yet still drought prone area seeking for effective and
efficient approach to creating resilience to unfolding disasters. A quantitative and qualitative
research approach was largely employed to triangulate the findings. Primary data were collected
from a sample of 250 households which were selected using probability sampling. The quantitative
data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical techniques. The quantitative data sets
were computed using STATA12. Qualitative data were collected using a guideline from KII and FGD
via interviews and focused discussions. The qualitative data was grouped into thematic categories
and patterns that resemble right-based approach were analyzed to triangulate the quantitative and
secondary content data sets. The secondary data were collected from reports, published and
unpublished material available via document research checklist and a content analysis was
employed. The main findings of the study were (1) Causes of food insecurity in Sekota Woreda: The
recurrent drought (shortage of rainfall), soil degradation, hailstorm and shortage of arable land
aggravated were found to be the causes of household food insecurity; 2) Determinants of Food
Insecurity in Sekota Woreda: the binary logistic regression model showed the significance of the
independent over the dependent variables and thus analyzed as determinants of household food
insecurity in Sekota Woreda. Accordingly, sex of the household head, drought frequency,
participation in humanitarian programming process, transparency of the programme to
beneficiaries, timeline of the assistance, package of the assistance and linkage with development
were the significant variables in terms of affecting the household food insecurity status. The above
two key findings were analyzed in the framework of rights-based approach and the results has found
that the humanitarian assistance interventions that were carried out in the study for several decades
have been operated without consideration of basic right based approach principles. In this regard,
the interventions did give little consideration to participation, transparency, accountability and
empowerment principles in practice though the rhetoric is evident in the intervention plan
documents. The study concluded with the recommendations that interventions in humanitarian
assistance settings which aimed at adaptation to climate resilience of the affected community have to
involve in all phases of humanitarian programming and outcome evaluations.
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Keywords
Humanitarian Assistance, Right Based Approach, Food Security, Sphere, Drought, household