Income-generating Opportunities Research Articles

Tourism and farmers' economic transformation: lessons from North Toraja

Farm diversification is becoming increasingly important for farmers in developing countries to improve economic resilience, especially with the increasing instability of agricultural markets. Agritourism, as one of the diversification strategies, can provide farmers with an alternative source of income. However, the factors influencing this diversification decision, particularly in rural areas such as North Toraja, Indonesia, still need to be fully understood. This qualitative research aims to understand the factors that influence farmers' livelihood diversification decisions in North Toraja, focusing on the role of agritourism and its implications for economic resilience and sustainable development. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews with 30 North Toraja farmers who have yet to diversify their businesses. The results showed that farmers' diversification decisions are influenced by several factors, including internal motivation (such as income generation opportunities and lifestyle needs), resource availability (land, capital, skills), market conditions (demand for agricultural products and agritourism services), and accessibility (strategic location and good access). The analysis also revealed that 83% of farmers were motivated by income generation opportunities, while 60% considered capital and location important factors in diversification. Farm diversification through agritourism provides additional income opportunities and contributes to farmers' economic resilience. This research emphasizes that diversification decisions are complex processes influenced by economic, social, and cultural factors. The results of this study provide insights into the dynamics of farmers' diversification decisions and provide policy implications to support sustainable rural development through agritourism.

Gig Economy: Is It a Trap or Stepping Stone for the Informal Sector?

The informal sector and technology have complex interactions, shaping economic activity, job trends, and social outcomes, especially with the rise of the “gig economy”, in which individuals work on an as-needed basis through online platforms. This article explores several theoretical frameworks, such as modernization theory, dependence theory, structuralist approaches, and post-structuralist viewpoints, and investigates how different frameworks explain the effects of technology on informal economic activity. This article also reviews for comprehending the correlation between the informal sector and technology. Besides that, this article explores the dual nature of the gig economy, examining whether it serves as a trap that perpetuates the vulnerabilities of the informal sector or as a stepping stone toward more excellent economic stability and mobility. Although the gig economy provides opportunities for income generation, skill development, and flexible working conditions, it also presents substantial challenges, such as job insecurity, a lack of benefits, and potential exploitation. This paper also addresses the implications for policy and future research directions by the sustainable development goal (SDG) of fostering sustainable, inclusive, and long-term economic growth, as well as full and productive employment and decent work for all.

Prevalence and determinants of stunting and anaemia in children aged 6-23 months: A multilevel analysis from rural Ethiopia.

Low- and middle-income countries shoulder the greatest burden of stunting and anaemia in children. This calls for prompt and effective intervention measures, while the contributing factors are not fully understood. This study evaluates determinants spanning from individual-, household- and community levels including agroecology and antinutrients as unique sets of predictors. Primary data were collected from 660 rural households representing the midland (ML), highland, and upper highland (UHL) agroecological zones from northern Ethiopia. The study relates several predictors to stunting and anaemia in children aged 6-23 months. We found 49.1% and 49.7% of children were stunted and anaemic, respectively. Children living in the ML are approximately twice more likely to be stunted adjusted odds ratio (AOR: 1.869; 95% CI: 1.147-3.043) than in the UHL. The risk of stunting increases by 16.3% and 41.9% for every unit increase in phytate-to-zinc and phytate-to-iron molar ratios, respectively. A 10% increase in mean aggregated crop yield was observed to reduce the likelihood of stunting occurrence by 13.6%. Households lacking non-farm income-generating opportunities, travel longer time to access the marketplace and poor health service utilisation were associated with increased risk of stunting. Low diversity of child's diet, age of the child (18-23 months) and mothers at a younger age are significantly associated with stunting. Risk of anaemia in children is high amongst households with unimproved water, sanitation, and hygiene practices, younger age (6-11 months) and mostly occurs amongst boys. Children in the ML had a 55% reduced risk of being anaemic (AOR: 0.446; 95% CI: 0.273-0.728) as compared to the UHL. Therefore, the influence of these factors should be considered to tailor strategies for reducing undernutrition in children of 6-23 months in rural Ethiopia. Interventions should go beyond the administrative boundaries into targeting agroecological variation.

An Exploration on Success and Failure of Cooperatives and Microfinance

Cooperatives and microfinances are regarded as a vehicle of development. The history of cooperatives and microfinance development is relatively short which dates back to the 1970s. With the assistance of cooperatives and microfinances, households can expand opportunities for income generation. Small size of loan, group savings, small-scale entrepreneurs, diversified utilization and simple and flexible terms and conditions on credit are the determining characteristics of microfinance and cooperatives. Basically this study is based on the review of past studies and research documents and has tried to collect detail information regarding the history, success and failure of microfinance and cooperatives. It covers the information of advanced countries as well as developing countries like Nepal. In course of research, the study found that cooperatives and microfinance have contributed too many households including backward people, women and marginalized groups. It has assisted to poverty eradication, inequality reduction, women empowerment, unemployment reduction which all result to economic development. These outcomes lead to the success of cooperatives and microfinance whereas public policy issues, fraud of the management team, lack of accountability, unproductive use of cooperatives and microfinance lead towards its failure. On the basis of the findings, it can be concluded that there is rapidly expanding number and size of cooperatives and microfinance institutions in many parts of the world, and in course of time these are moving towards commercial sector rather than being oriented to backward people.

MULTIPARAMETRIC SIMULATION OPTIMIZATION OF AN IMPROVED SMALL HOLDING SOAP STAMPING-TABLETING MACHINE

The performance of a Soap Stamping-Tableting was quantified and optimized in this study to response surface methodology. The operational parameters evaluated were conveying speed, stamping and tableting speed, and time of operation while the tableting efficiency, throughput and specific energy consumption of the machine constitutes the responses variables. Response surface analysis was employed and the initial linear models developed augmented to quadratic models when it was established using the analysis of variance (ANOVA) and residual plots to estimate the performance of the soap stamping and tableting machine. The developed quadratic models were used to optimize the performance of the soap stamping and tableting machine using the D-optimality approach to establish the optimal factor settings of the soap stamping and tableting machine rounding up to the nearest whole number values are 351rpm, 21rpm, 55 minutes and an overall D-optimality value of 96 for the conveying speed, stamping and tableting speed and time of operation respectively. This soap stamping and tableting machine plays a crucial role in poverty alleviation and enhancing food security, directly contributing to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) number 1: Zero Hunger. By efficiently manufacturing and packaging soap, this machine enables the creation of small-scale soap businesses, providing income-generating opportunities for individuals in impoverished communities. The resulting economic empowerment helps lift people out of poverty, addressing the root causes of hunger. Additionally, improved hygiene through widespread access to affordable soap contributes to better health outcomes, further supporting the overarching goal of eradicating hunger and promoting sustainable development.

GENDER EMPOWERMENT AND EQUALITY IN NEPAL: CURRENT ANALYSIS

This research has explored the roles, opportunities, decision-making processes, responsibilities, and various issues related to gender and the status of women in society. It compares women with their male counterparts across several areas, including household duties, economic conditions, education, health, political engagement, and community decision-making. The main aim has been to perform a contemporary situational analysis of women’s empowerment and rural development, utilizing both primary and secondary data. The focus is on gender inequality, socio-economic factors, political involvement, and demographic trends. The main findings have highlighted that those women, in their journey towards empowerment, require substantial support from their families, communities, and the nation. They have faced significant barriers to accessing opportunities for income generation, employment, decision-making roles, property ownership, and participation in political processes. The majority of women have been primarily engaged in household duties, contributing to their lower socio-economic status. This research seeks to improve the status of women in the study area by highlighting the importance of government policies and programs that include women in development efforts. Addressing these challenges through empowerment has become crucial not only for improving women's lives but also for fostering economic development within the community and the country at large. Apart from the aforementioned suggestions, Constitutional and Legal Framework, National Plan and Policies, Quotas and Representation, Education and Health, Economic Empowerment, Combatting Gender-Based Violence, and Cultural and Social Change, Education and Awareness have been found the policies to be adopted for the gender empowerment and equality in the present condition of Nepal. Despite these policies, challenges such as patriarchal norms, economic disparities, and implementation gaps persist. Continued efforts are needed to ensure effective enforcement of laws, address cultural barriers, and achieve substantive gender equality in Nepal. Likewise, Legal and Policy Framework, Economic Empowerment, Political Participation, Healthcare and Reproductive Rights, Combat Gender-Based Violence, Media and Communication, Community Engagement and Partnerships, Data Collection and Research, and Monitoring and Evaluation have been identified as the ways of gender empowerment and equality in the present context of Nepal. Implementing these strategies requires commitment and collaboration across government, civil society, the private sector, and international partners. Achieving gender equality is a long-term endeavor that necessitates ongoing effort and investment across various sectors simultaneously.<p> </p><p><strong> Article visualizations:</strong></p><p><img src="/-counters-/soc/0702/a.php" alt="Hit counter" /></p>

Examining the Law Guiding Prostitution in Uganda from the Lens of Kabalagala Parish-Makindye Division

This study examines the law guiding prostitution in Uganda. The study revealed that the increasing incidents of prostitution are clear evidence that the enforcement of laws against prostitution in Uganda is ineffective as it is like containing smoke while leaving the fire burning underneath. Based on these findings, the study calls for the authorities to engage social sciences experts to find out the real causes of prostitution and their probable solutions because ‘customers’ include married people. Without this, prostitution will be here to stay despite its being against the law and morals. More so, a combination of programmes that expand income-generating opportunities needs to be developed both in the short and long term. Furthermore, prostitutes should be called upon through their advocating organization placed in vocational training courses, and given parallel forms of support for involvement in entrepreneurial activities. Similarly, continuous training needs analysis should be undertaken for prostitutes to determine appropriate skills to be imparted for productive work. Finally, behavioral change programmes should be continued to discourage and eliminate risky behaviors in the communities, in the form of live drama performances, audio and visual materials, and recreation activities targeting both community members and prostitutes. Keywords: Anti-prostitution laws, Poverty, Prostitution, Sexual exploitation, Unemployment, Victimhood

Agro-input dealers' perspectives on the design of a certification scheme for pesticide risk reduction.

While pesticides are essential for crop protection and food security, they pose serious risks to human health and the environment. Agro-input dealers can play an important role in mitigating pesticide risks, given that they are a major source of pesticides and plant health information for many developing-country farmers. In this article, we assess the willingness of agro-input dealers to offer integrated pest management-based advisory services and promote pesticide risk reduction through a voluntary certification scheme. Using survey data from 557 agro-input dealers in Uganda and a discrete choice experiment, we find that the proposed certification scheme is significantly valued by agro-input dealers, particularly for its potential to provide training opportunities and ensure safety to human health and the environment. Agro-input dealers have a positive attitude towards a certification scheme that restricts the sale of high-risk pesticide products, especially if it stimulates additional income-generating opportunities. Further analysis shows that preferences for voluntary certification attributes are influenced by certification experience, agro-dealership experience, business ownership status and incidence of acute pesticide poisoning. The study findings demonstrate that agro-input dealers are conscious of pesticide risks to human and environmental health and are keen to participate in a certification scheme promoting safer plant protection products. © 2024 The Author(s). Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

“Especially Being Homeless, They Just Think You’re Infected with COVID or Something”: A Qualitative Exploration of the COVID-19 Pandemic’s Impact on People Experiencing Homelessness With a History of Injection Drug Use in Baltimore, Maryland

People experiencing homelessness with a substance use disorder are a highly structurally vulnerable population, facing a unique burden of compounding stigma, discrimination, and adverse health outcomes. Evidence remains mixed on best practices for housing interventions designed to meet the needs of this population. Ten people with a history of injection drug use experiencing homelessness during the COVID-19 pandemic were interviewed between July 2021 and February 2022 in Baltimore, Maryland. Thematic analysis was used to characterize the pandemic’s impact on their resource access, housing, and substance use. Participants highlighted substantial challenges resulting from structural changes during the pandemic, including limits on income-generating opportunities and resource access, and increases in experiences of stigma and discrimination. However, several individuals reported decreased substance use in response to changes to their housing status, with those placed in secure housing attributing their decreased use to this change. These accounts can help guide housing and social support interventions best suited to meet the unique needs of people experiencing homelessness with substance use disorders.

Preparation And Evaluation Of Polyherbal Scented Candle Using Volatile Oils Extracted By Enfleurage Method

Background: Medicinal plants serve dual roles, offering remedies for various diseases and income-generation opportunities. Ancient Indian texts, including Ayurveda, extensively document plant use in healthcare. Globally, medicinal plants are vital resources in the fight against severe diseases. Essential oils in plants provide distinct aromas, flavors, and pathogen protection. Tithonia erecta flower oil boasts a complex composition with diverse beneficial properties. Exocarp extract from Citrus sinensis differs from juice or leaf extracts, containing more lipophilic compounds but fewer glycosylated compounds and lacking cyanidins and sterols. Eucalyptus globulus oil acts as an antiseptic and anti-spasmodic stimulant for respiratory issues. Scented candles are a popular relaxation method, promoting well-being through ambient lighting. This study aims to create practical scented candles using natural materials like soy wax, beeswax, and essential oils. Methods: The desired candle should offer a long burn time, be cost-effective, and pose no health risks to users. The candle composition includes gel wax, vegetable or animal fat, eucalyptus leaves, marigold petals, and orange peels. This study involves preparing and evaluating polyherbal scented candles using volatile oils extracted through the enfleurage method. Results: The phytochemical analysis of these extracts revealed the presence of volatile oils, alkaloids and proteins. The FTIR analysis reveals the presence of OH group in these extracts. Conclusion: This research successfully developed a natural polyherbal scented candle with extended burn time, cost-effectiveness, and user safety. Antioxidants prevent undesired changes during production and use. The candle contains gel wax, vegetable or animal fat, eucalyptus leaves, marigold petals, and orange peels. Evaluation tests confirmed safety and effectiveness. Among formulations, F1 is fragrance-minimal and allergy-free, while others may cause counter-irritation. This eco-friendly product provides a fresh herbal fragrance for stress relief and is competitively priced.

Diversity of Vegetables Marketed During the Pongal Festival in the Tirunelveli District, Tamil Nadu

Fruit and vegetables provide nutrition and food security, income-generating opportunities, ecosystem services, and contribute to cultural identities. Protecting these species, and by extension, demands urgent action. The present study is to understand the diversity of vegetables sold in the markets of Tirunelveli District Tamil Nadu. Field visits were made to the local markets in and around Tirunelveli covering nearly 30 km2. A major survey was done at Tirunelveli Town Wholesale Market Complex, Palayamkottai Market complex, and various farmer markets (Ulaver Santhai). A total of 62 species belonging to 41 genera and 19 families were identified in the study. Out of 62 species, 61 belong to angiosperms and 01 to fungi. Cucurbitaceae is the dominant family with 11 species. Brassica largest genera share 10 species. Totally 20 species of geophytic vegetables were recorded in the study area. Out of them majority (45% of the species) were monocots, and family Brassicaceae, is dominant with 5 species. The present study concluded with an appeal for sufficient, sustained funding to ensure a global rescue plan for vegetable diversity can shift the research and development agenda to focus on nutrition and well-being.

Income Generation Opportunities through Secondary Agriculture towards Sustainability in Angul District of Odisha: A Case Study

Aims: The aim of the study was for attempting various Income Generation interventions to address poverty, unemployment and lack of economic opportunities which could increase participants’ ability towards secured livelihoods. Secondary agriculture is essentially a way of business development that aids in providing farming households in rural areas with income and employment. Place and Duration of the Study: The study was conducted in Krishi Vigyan Kendra Angul, Odisha between 2016-17 to 2021-22. Methodology: PRA survey of the village followed by group discussions and other approaches were conducted to identify the constraints and accordingly the process planning was performed for strengthening their livelihood. By the technological interventions from Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Angul the famers took trainings for grasping ideas & scientific knowledge about the enterprises. Periodically some critical inputs under various programme were also provided from the KVK. Results: As a result, year after year the farmers practicing bee-keeping could able to earn in an average of Rs. 5,14,100/- from 180 bee boxes by selling pure honey & bee-colonies. Besides this, another group of farmers with improved colour poultry breeds under backyard condition with an average yield of 1.62 kg could earn an average net return of Rs. 14,742/-. Conclusion: Given that the world's population is quickly growing, it is imperative for global agriculture to turn to secondary agriculture (honey bee and poultry farming) in order to provide opportunities not only for improving livelihood but also for nutritional security.

Factors Shaping Women's Involvement in Community Development Projects: A Case of Mvomero Water Initiatives

This study investigated about factors influencing women's involvement in community development projects within the framework of development initiatives targeting women. Specifically, it focused on water initiatives in the Mvomero District. The study utilized the cross-sectional design. The findings from probit regression analysis reveal significant insights, highlighting the influential role of various factors in shaping women's decisions to participate. Education level emerges as a significant determinant emphasizing the pivotal role of educational attainment in fostering women's involvement in community development endeavors. Additionally, marital status and family size demonstrate notable impacts, illustrating the complex relationship between familial responsibilities and women's engagement in such projects. Furthermore, income level and access to credit emerged as crucial determinants, underscoring the importance of financial resources in facilitating women's active participation. Moreover, media, awareness and government policies played pivotal roles in influencing women's decisions to engage in community development initiatives. The study emphasizes the necessity of targeted policy interventions aimed at women’s participation through enhancement of income-generating opportunities and awareness to foster inclusive development and growth, thereby contributing to the advancement of gender equality in community development efforts.

Assessing the role of forest resources in improving rural livelihoods in West Bengal of India

Forest resources play a vital role in supporting the livelihoods of rural communities residing in forest-rich areas. In India, a forest-rich country, a significant proportion of non-timber forest products (NTFPs) is consumed locally, supporting numerous rural communities relying on forests for essential resources, such as firewood, timber, and NTFPs. This study focuses on two forest-dominant districts in West Bengal of India, namely, Jhargram District and Paschim Medinipur District. Furthermore, this study aims to enhance the understanding of forest-dependent communities by comparing the standard of living among different village classes. Thus, we categorized villages into three classes based on the distance from home to forests, including inner villages, fringe villages, and outer villages. Through focus group discussions and household surveys, we explored the sources of local economy, income sources of household, and reasons for economic diversification in different village classes. The study findings confirm that substantial variations existed in the income sources and the standard of living in these villages. Forest income varied dramatically among the three village classes, with inner villages having greater forest income than fringe villages and outer villages. Meanwhile, households in outer villages depended on forests and engaged in diverse economic activities for their livelihoods. Compared with inner and fringe villages, households in outer villages derived a significant portion of their income from livestock. This discrepancy can be attributed to challenges, such as inadequate transportation, communication, and underdeveloped market chains in inner villages. Moreover, these findings emphasize the need to develop sustainable forest management practices, create alternative income-generation opportunities, and improve infrastructure and market access in inner villages, as well as promote economic diversification in outer villages. Through targeted policy measures, these forest-rich regions can achieve improved livelihoods, enhanced standard of living, and increased resilience for their communities.

Role of Micro Finance in uplifting Indian Economy: An Analysis

Microfinance institutions (MFIs) act as indispensable financial intermediaries, providing small loans and services to individuals excluded from mainstream banking due to socio-economic constraints. Their significance lies in empowering marginalized communities, promoting financial inclusion, and fostering opportunities for income generation and entrepreneurship. Notably, microfinance contributes significantly to poverty alleviation and gender equality, particularly in empowering women, who often constitute a substantial portion of its beneficiaries. However, the effectiveness of microfinance in India faces multifaceted challenges. This paper addresses hurdles such as exorbitant interest rates, insufficient infrastructure, and the urgent need for effective regulation to prevent the exploitation of vulnerable borrowers Overall, this paper will find out the indispensable role of microfinance in India's economic development while acknowledging the challenges hindering its full potential. Unravelling these dynamics provides policymakers, practitioners, and stakeholders with a comprehensive understanding of microfinance in the Indian context, crucial for formulating informed strategies that foster sustained growth and ensure its continued positive impact on economic development. The insights gleaned from this study are vital for shaping the trajectory of microfinance in India.

Women's participation in and benefit from Rift Valley fever livestock vaccine value chain; current situation and barriers in Nyagatare District, Rwanda

Livestock vaccine value chains present opportunities for women's empowerment and income generation. To effectively position women to embrace these opportunities, understanding their current position and the factors that determine their involvement is crucial. This study mapped the actors, governance framework, and women's and men's positions along the value chain. It also analyzed gendered barriers to their participation and benefiting from services, processes, and products from the livestock Rift Valley fever vaccine value chain for livestock in Nyagatare District, Rwanda. Data was collected through 10 focus group discussions, 33 key informant interviews, and 1 stakeholder engagement meeting, while analysis was conducted thematically. Our results show that women's participation as importers, distributors, deliverers, or end-users was low to non-existent. Local gender norms curtailed women's participation and benefit at all nodes through restricted mobility, limited decision-making power, and restricted access to and control over resources. Additional barriers for stakeholders at the end-user node included a lack of knowledge about RVF vaccination in goats and how to demand or access the vaccine. This study recommends challenging persistent and limiting cultural norms through behavioral change communication by engaging men and boys as key actors for gender equality, engendering national and local planning and evaluation frameworks, and accelerating gender transformation in the private sector.

Understanding the drivers of electricity access and willingness to pay for reliable electricity in African refugee settlements: Evidence from Zambia, Malawi, and Uganda

This study investigates electricity access and willingness to pay for reliable electricity among refugees living in settlements in protracted situations in Sub-Saharan Africa. Field data from 1322 respondents in Dzaleka (Malawi), Adjumani (Uganda), and Meheba (Zambia) reveal varying access rates ranging from under 20 % to approximately 80 %, with older and wealthier settlements reporting higher values. Also, the level of access is low (Tier 0 to 3) and supply is unreliable. Average willingness to pay differs across locations (the household mean in Meheba is 4.5 times larger than in Adjumani and more than double that in Dzaleka) but is similar in relative terms (corresponds to about 10 % of the local monthly income). Also, the distribution of the willingness to pay within each location is left-skewed, with a significant share of respondents indicating a value of zero (28 % of households in Adjumani). Using socio-economic data collected from the field, we identify and analyse a set of potential drivers of electricity access and willingness to pay. The regression models' results confirm the crucial role of income, identify certain key end-user characteristics, and reveal the awareness of the benefits of electricity services as a significant driver for households. These findings emphasise the urgency of addressing electricity access disparities and the critical role of tailored interventions and policies promoting affordability and income-generating opportunities for refugees in protracted situations. Preliminary insights into the complex role of drivers specific to the humanitarian energy context (prior electricity access, humanitarian aid, and years spent in the settlement) suggest further research.

TSD: Random feature query design for transformer-based shrimp detector

Shrimp farming plays a vital role in ensuring food security, income generation, and employment opportunities for millions of people globally. One promising approach to enhance the efficiency of shrimp farming is through shrimp image detection, which uses computer vision to identify shrimp in aquaculture ponds. However, detecting shrimp in complex environments can be challenging, as light conditions and water turbidity can interfere with existing detection models. The current shrimp detection methods suffer from issues such as low detection accuracy and limited robustness. Therefore, we presents a Transformer-based Shrimp Detector (TSD) framework for detecting shrimp in images of complex scenes. The algorithm employs a Convolutional Neural Network to extract image features, which are then fed into a transformer encoder–decoder. We also introduce an innovative object query setting method in the decoder that uses a random feature query. To predict the detection results, a feed-forward neural network is used, and two parts in the matching loss are improved. We construct a dataset of images containing diverse shrimp farming environments, and provide box-level annotations. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method achieves a detection accuracy of 82.7% Average Precision, surpassing mainstream object detection models.

Unveiling the Recipe for Disaster Vulnerability: A Multidimensional Analysis in Dumaguete City, Philippines

Disaster vulnerability is not just a condition but a consequence of the interactions of natural and social factors. From this viewpoint, it is imperative to consider both natural and social factors when planning effective disaster risk reduction strategies. This study sought to determine factors that predict disaster vulnerability. Specifically, this research determined the associations between several socio-ecological dimensions (e.g., environmental, social, and economic profile), coping capacity, disaster preparedness, and disaster vulnerability of selected households in Dumaguete city. Using snowball sampling, a descriptive correlational design was used to collect data from self-report surveys of non-probable samples of 150 households from different disaster-prone barangays. Frequency count, weighted mean, and standard deviation were used to describe the data, and a multiple linear regression analysis was done to test the study's hypotheses. Findings show that the respondents manifested moderate levels of coping capacity and disaster preparedness while having high levels of disaster vulnerability. The study revealed that disaster preparedness and coping capacity were negatively correlated to disaster vulnerability. Aside from coping capacity and disaster preparedness, environmental, social, and economic profiles were also noted to predict disaster vulnerability significantly. Environmental profile was the most vital determinant of the participants’ perceived disaster vulnerability. To better prepare for disasters, it is suggested that city disaster risk reduction strategies focus on helping vulnerable barangays develop better adaptive capacities and manage environmental hazards. This could include providing training on essential hazard management and creating income-generating opportunities to offset the adverse effects of disasters.

Do Factory Jobs Improve Welfare? Experimental Evidence from Ethiopia

Abstract This study explores the impact of a light-touch job-facilitation intervention that supported young female job seekers during the application process for factory work in a newly constructed industrial park in Ethiopia. Using data from a panel of 687 job seekers and randomized access to the support intervention, the study finds that treated applicants are more likely to be employed and have higher earnings and savings eight months after baseline, although these impacts are short-lived. Four years later, the effects on employment and income largely dissipated. The results suggest that young women face significant barriers to engaging in factory work in the short run that a simple job-facilitation intervention can help overcome. In the long term, however, these jobs do not offer a better alternative than other income-generating opportunities.