Fereia, Temesgen (Ph.D)Alemayehu, Ammayo2018-06-292023-11-102018-06-292023-11-102009-06http://etd.aau.edu.et/handle/12345678/4786The stll(0' allempled 10 examine Ihe role o/Lileraey in economic empowermenllaking Ihe case of Women MSBE operalors al Nekemple lown, parlicularly wilh Ihe pwposes 0/ idel7lifying Iheir educational and work background Ihey had had, Ihe exisling gap among Ihem because of lileracy, and consequenlly, whal bene/ifs Ihey gain or miss and which group orthem enjoy beller livelihood. Hence, qualitalive c({se sludy melhod was used 10 underloke Ihe sludy and 10 understand Ihe conoilion deeply. Primarily, dalCt were guthered FOIl1 lI1ainly women tv/SilE operators, and workers or TlT() lI,ho were ({/ the sall1e tillle /acifilators 0/ the enterprises through queslionnaire, FeD and In-deplh il7lerview. The parlicipanls were chosen Ihrough stratified random sampling /01' questionnaire and FeD and purposive sampling based on Iheir role and responsibility, willing and cooperaliveness, self expressiveness and literacy range in which they were. Accordingly, 121 sample women/illed Ihe questionnaire, 30 women participated in three FGDs and . four women and . /iJl/r TlTO workers were inlerviewed. Then, da/a collecled Ihrollgh questionnaire were presenled and used where if was needed. and {he dalo gathered Ihrough FeDs and Inlerviews were presel7led in narrative/arms on the bases of injOnnants perceptions and il7lerpreted of Ihe Siltwtion supported by researcher '.I' reflective analysis. The finding of Ihe sludy revealed that those women were unable to per/onn their enterprises activilies elJicienlly 10 improve their economic wei/are because 0/ lack of life skills,' some women MSBE operators were lacking reading, writing and nllllieracy skills. There/ore, Ihe researcher recommended Funclional Adult Literacy program deSigned/or women, at all level: agencies thai organize and/acilitale should consider the litemcy back ground of participants, and regions should undertake timely and appropriale monitoring and evaluation activities 10 strengthen the activities orthose women engaged in MSBEs.enLiteracy in economicThesis