Effects of Resettlement Schemes on the Livelihood of Project Affected Households: The Case of Ribb Irrigation Dam Amhara Regional State, Ethiopia

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Date

2020-06

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Addis Ababa University

Abstract

Large scale projects such as buildings of irrigation dam can bring significant benefits to the community by enhancing their resilience to natural shocks including climate change. However, they could affect the natural and social environments and cause further devastation for local livelihoods unless managed properly. To this end, an assessment of the effects of resettlement schemes and the environment on the livelihoods of project affected households due to Ribb irrigation dam had been conducted. The Dam is located in South Gondar zone Ebnat and Farta woreda, Amhara regional state in Ethiopia. The purpose of the irrigation is to improve irrigation facilities in order to enhance crop production by providing stable water supply to agricultural production. The study used the new environmental setting, social interference, capability to generate income plus building assets, and resettlement compensations as inputs to understand how livelihood sustainability of the Project affected people (PAPs) affected. This study is based on the 115 of the 227 project affected households (PAHHs) that have been displaced by the construction of Ribb Irrigation Dam. Data was collected using pretested questionnaires. The data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20 and Microsoft Excel. Assessment result of the livelihood condition of project affected households (PAHHs) reveals that only 6.96 % of the PAHHs have access to all the basic services including clean energy, clean water supply, sanitation, road access, school, finance, market access and due compensation with 100% of this promising result belonging to male-headed households.Relationship between income generation activity, and socio-demographic characteristics (age, sex, family size, education and marital status) show positive correlation with sex and marital status of the family head being significant. It’s also noted that connection between compensation negotiation and compensation fairness is major demonstrating partial negotiation process. Hence, it’s concluded that almost all of the host community are leading unsustainable livelihood. To make matters worse, vulnerable groups such as women are excluded from livelihood opportunities. Therefore, it’s hereby recommended that the government and development partners closely monitor the impact of any livelihood restoration programs that focuses on project affected households. Transparency, public participation and inclusiveness, equity and rule of law, and accountability are required to ensure sustainable livelihood of the host community.

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Keywords

Resettlement, Social interference, Compensation, Vulnerable, Livelihood sustainability, PAHHs, Host community.

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