Alemu, Getenet (PhD)Esuendale, Zelalem2018-07-272023-11-182018-07-272023-11-182008-07http://etd.aau.edu.et/handle/12345678/10337The main objective of this study was to examine the determinants of livelihood opportunities of the rural youths in Merhabete Woreda-North Showa Zone of Amhara Regional State. The study was conducted in the Woreda to look in to access to and control over liveWlOod capital asset by the rural youths which contribute to improve their livelihood opportunities. The 'Sustainable livelihood framework' was used as analytical framework to understand the livelihood situation of the youth. A significant number of youths in Merhabete Woreda face difficulties to have access to and control over livelihood capital assets which have a vital role for their livelihood development. One of the most important capital asset for agrarian population is land. However, the youths lack access to and control over land resource. They also lack decision making power on d,eir families' or communiry's land holdings and other natural resources. More than 65.2 percent of the respondents reported that they have no decision making power on their parents and/or guardians land. On the other hand, the youth have limited access to youth friendly social services such as credit service, training and health service. Since youths who live with their parents or/ and guardians hardly have collateral to loan from local credit institutions, or they don't have access to youth friendly training services such as life skill, leadership abiliry and entrepreneurial training. They found themselves in a difficult situation to improve the livelihood opportunities. From the total sampled respondent only 9.6 and 12 percent have access to formal credit services and special training; respectively. The local youths are also having litde opportuniry to engage in activities other than farming. Nonfarm employment opportunities are limited to accommodate insignificant number of youth. Only 10.4 percent of the respondents involve in such activities as a primary or secondary sources of livelihood. This means a great proportion of active labour force mosdy the youths are forced to stay on family crop production and livestock rearing which already have a limited capaciry to absorb the rapidly increasing excess labour. From several constraining factors forwarded by the respondents; lack of start up capital, having less awareness about the beneficial values and limited know how and skill were mentioned to be the major once. Farm and off-farm wage employment is also accommodating a small number of youths. Only 13 percent of the local youths are engage in such activities. In general the youths in Merhabete Woreda encounter various challenges to improve their livelihood since they have limited job opportuniry at local level to diversify their source of livelihoods. Therefore, based on the study findings some recommendations are forward ed. Short term measures including distribution of mountainous and unoccupied land available at local level for the rural youth individually or in group base to benefit from and conserve the natural resources is essential. In addition the youili should allow having access to use and to fully participate in decision making process at household and communiry level. Concerned efforts are also required to make the rural non-farm sector youth friendly through policy and strategy formulation at grass root level. EffortS also needed to expand the credit and training services provided at the Woreda rowns to all rural Kebeles. There is also a need to formulate all rounded employment policy which aimed at solving the problem of the youth at a grass root level.enDeterminants of Livelihood Opportunities of the Rural youths in MerhabeteThesis