Poverty In Ethiopia Research Articles

English

Food insecurity is an integral part of poverty in Ethiopia owing to agricultural production to be less able to adapt to climate change. The main objective of the study is to evaluate the status of food availability in the face of climate change and variability in Choke Mountain Watersheds, Central Ethiopia. For this purpose structured household questionnaire, Key Informant Interview, Group discussion and field observation were used to generate both qualitative and quantitative data. Both purposive and non-purposive sampling techniques were employed to select each agro ecosystem and sample households. Household Food Balance Model (HFBM) was used to analyze the status of food availability. Other quantitative data was analyzed, tabulated and summarized by utilizing Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS 20). The result of HFBM revealed majority of sample households are food insecured in terms of daily calorie availability per adult equivalent and due to climate variability availability of food is not equal across all Agro Ecology System (AES). Even if the magnitude of productivity problems differ in each Agro Ecology System. Weed infestation, land degradation, dependency on single harvest, lack of farm implements are the cause of reduction of agricultural activities and productivities.     Key words: Food availability, climate change and variability, choke mountain watersheds, household food balance model (HFBM). &nbsp

Live Aid/8: perpetuating the superiority myth

In 1984, the Band Aid charity single was produced, followed by the Live Aid concert in 1985, to raise awareness and funds to alleviate poverty in Ethiopia and its surrounds. In 2005, Live 8 was organised to address the continued issue of poverty. Although this movement emanated from benevolent intentions, through the choice of the Band Aid song-lyrics, the images displayed, and the comments and decisions made regarding the concert events, the movement served to other people from the global south. Thus, Band Aid and Live Aid/8 contributed to, and compounded, problematic truths which suggest that the global north is superior to the south. Such truths were also evident during the colonial period, and were promoted through exhibitions that advocated that people from the north were superior to colonial natives, and that colonialism was beneficial to the colonies, i.e., aiding the natives to improve themselves. Consequently, Band Aid, Live Aid/8 and colonial exhibitions all proclaimed to aid the people of the global south while advocating problematic truths. It is important to recognise that such truths endure, albeit evolved, as these truths continue to disempower countries in the global south, embedding the truth that the south is incapable of forging its own successful future without help from the north.

Public Investment In Irrigation And Training, Growth And Poverty Reduction In Ethiopia

This paper analyzes the impacts of public investment in small-scale irrigation and farmer training on growth and agriculture-led development, on food security, and on poverty in Ethiopia. We use a dynamic Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) model linked to a microsimulation model based on the latest household income and expenditure survey, in a topdown approach. All public investments are assumed to increase total factor productivity through increased supply of skilled labor and/or irrigated land. We find that investing in farmer training alone has great potential to increase growth, food security and poverty reduction, given that the economy is labor-intensive. Investing in training combined with irrigation has even greater impacts. An irrigation only approach will not yield the expected results if agricultural labor does not have the required skills. The irrigated agriculture sector has great potential despite its small size. However, for the impact to be notable, important investments are required in the first place to increase the share of irrigated agriculture versus the rain-fed. An agriculture-led development is less likely to occur because: i) of weak forward and backward production linkages between agriculture and manufacturing sectors; ii) a significant share of manufacturing inputs is imported; iii) the resulting contraction in private investment which restrains expansion of the manufacturing and services sectors

Impact of Trade Liberalization on Poverty in Ethiopia: A Computable General Equilibrium Microsimulation

This study analyses the impact of trade liberalization on poverty in Ethiopia using a computable general equilibrium Microsimulation approach. Two scenarios (complete tariff cut and uniform tariff scheme) suggest that further liberalization of trade has a negative short-run effect on the overall economy. We find that the agriculture-based manufacturing sector (in particular, textile and leather) is likely to be strongly affected by tariff reductions. Poverty estimates show an increase in both scenarios. At the national level, complete tariff cut increases poverty by 2.8%, compared to 2.3% under a uniform tariff scheme. In both scenarios, poverty increases more among entrepreneur households (3.2% in the uniform tariff cut scenario), than farm and wage earner households (0.9% and 1.5%, respectively). This is consistent with the theoretical argument that previously-protected infant industries are highly affected by trade liberalization and may require compensatory policies.

Podoconiosis, the Non-Filarial Elephantiasis, a Means of Discrimination and Poverty in Ethiopia

Podoconiosis is a non-infectious geo-chemical disease caused by exposure of bare feet to red clay soil derived from volcanic rocks. In Ethiopia, 1 million people suffer with the disease. It affects the physical condition (disability and deformity) of patients and also the social and economic status of affected individuals. Studies conducted in endemic countries clearly stated that there is stigmatization in the family and in general in the community. This consequences mental distress in affected individual. Besides, individuals affected economically: they cost for treatment and mainly they loss their productivity potential. These results financial crisis individually and aggravate poverty in the society. This review intends to address the social exclusion and economic impact of podoconiosis in Ethiopia.

English

The study argues poverty in Ethiopia is the function of incapable local institutions. It measures the existing capacities and challenges of the local institutions to translate development plans to action in the study area. For data acquisition, pre-tested structured questionnaires were administered to 100 randomly selected civil servants in ten local institutions. The study has found that the local institutions had neither development plans which match with the local conditions nor the necessary human, financial, physical and technological capacities to execute the consecutive development plans. In addition, the development plans of the local institutions were not supported by the necessary modern technologies. Hence, the local institutions failed to translate the subsequent development plans to action keeping the country poor with sluggish micro development record. The study calls for the federal government and international agencies to strengthen the capacities of the institutions to stimulate the local economy.    Key words: Organization/institution, capacity, local government.  &nbsp

Gender and poverty – an analysis of urban poverty in Ethiopia

This study investigates the relationship between gender and poverty in urban Ethiopia using cross-sectional data of 1999/2000 and 2004/2005 household surveys. It employs consumption expenditure to measure the poverty level. In addition, Foster–Greer–Thorbecke index and regression models such as Ordinary Least Squares, Probit and Quantile models are used to assess the correlates of poverty and determinants of real per capita expenditure of households at mean and different quantiles. The result shows that between 1999/2000 and 2004/2005, the poverty headcount has decreased for both female-headed households (FHHs) and male-headed households (MHHs), where the rate of reduction was higher for the FHHs. Feminization of poverty is thus a weak argument in urban Ethiopia. However, over the two periods the income shortfall below the poverty line and severity of poverty were more common in households headed by females. In the year 1999/2000, FHHs were more poverty stricken compared to MHHs, and the gender headcount difference had fallen to 3% in 2004/2005, but remained at a higher level for both, indicating that poverty is an issue of both MHHs and FHHs.

Determinant of poverty in Ethiopia

Poverty has turned out to be a great global social and economic problem. In Ethiopia, it is multifaceted and deep rooted. This study attempts to analyze the impact of socioeconomic and demographic characteristics of households on poverty in Ethiopia, using the latest Household Income, Consumption and Expenditure Survey (HICES) 2010-11. The study employs a logistic regression model to identify determinants of wellbeing of the household by considering per capita consumption as a dependent variable. Different households are classified as either poor or non-poor on the basis of absolute per capita consumption of Birr 3781. Results show owner of agricultural land, head (self-employed or employed in formal sector) are more likely to exit from poverty line. The results also reveal that female headed households, large family size and high dependency ratio are adversely affected. Keywords : Poverty, Household, Per Capita Consumption, Determinants, Logistic Regression.

Public Investment in Irrigation and Training for an Agriculture-Led Development: A CGE Approach for Ethiopia

Agricultural activities have been and remain key for sustained growth and pro-poor development in Ethiopia. However, the sector under utilizes its irrigation capacities as well as its abundant human resources. This paper aims at measuring the impact of public investment in small-scale irrigation and training for farmers on growth and agriculture-led development, on food security, and on poverty in Ethiopia. It is line with the current five year development strategy of the government and will give insights on the effect of selected targeted indicators. We use a dynamic Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) model to capture the outcomes of public investment shocks. Public investment is modeled in such a way that it increases the supply of skilled agricultural labor and that of irrigated land by transforming unskilled labor and non irrigated land. Two types of technologies are utilized in agriculture to produce the same crop: a more productive technology that is intensive in skilled labor and irrigated land and a less productive technology that is intensive in unskilled labor and non-irrigated land. Households have the ability to increase their endowments in labor and land. Hence, the increase in skilled labor due to public investment in the form of short term training enables households to increase the share of skilled labor they detain while reducing the share of unskilled labor. The same applies for land. Finally, the model has a poverty module using a top-down approach where changes in the CGE model are imported in the household data. The CGE model is a PEP type model and is calibrated to a SAM of Ethiopia for the fiscal year 2005/06. The poverty module uses the 2005 Household Income and Expenditure Survey. This exercise showed that the Ethiopian government policy strategy regarding agriculture sector development has a great potential for reducing poverty and food insecurity. Simulation results show that investing in training and irrigation contributes to the effort towards achieving the MDGs. Exports expand and in particular export of cash crops that generate higher income at household and national levels. The results also show that an agriculture-led development is less likely to occur because of weak forward and backward production linkages between agriculture and manufacturing sectors where a great deal of manufacturing inputs are imported. The increment in public investment has a crowding-out effect that affects the expansion of manufacturing and services sectors which are highly intensive in private capital.

Practical Ethics in Social Research with Children and Families in Young Lives: A Longitudinal Study of Childhood Poverty in Ethiopia, Andhra Pradesh (India), Peru and Vietnam

A great deal of attention is now paid to the ethics of social research. Research governance has expanded, and a burgeoning literature describes the processes, practices and questions that arise in social research with children, families and communities. This paper outlines the approach taken to research ethics within Young Lives, a longitudinal study of childhood poverty in Ethiopia, Andhra Pradesh (India), Peru and Vietnam, co-ordinated by a research team based in the UK. Drawing on fieldwork reports, qualitative data and other material, I offer some ‘real life’ examples of ethics questions encountered in research, providing insights into the experiences of fieldworkers. The paper emphasises the importance of understanding local contexts in undertaking research with children and families in environments that change rapidly, economically, environmentally and politically. Overall, my aim is to contribute to current debates about research practices, the ethics of longitudinal research with children, and research with children and parents in developing countries.

Understanding the causes and consequences of injuries to adolescents growing up in poverty in Ethiopia, Andhra Pradesh (India), Vietnam and Peru: a mixed method study

The World Health Organization estimates that almost half of all premature deaths among 15- to 19-year olds can be attributed to injuries with most (95%) fatal injuries occurring in low- and middle-income countries. Yet the evidence base for adolescent injuries in low-income countries is poor. This article uses a mixed method approach to gain an understanding of patterns, causes and consequences of unintentional injuries among adolescents aged between 14 and 16 years in four low-income country settings. Survey data collected in 2009 in Ethiopia, India (Andhra Pradesh), Peru and Vietnam (from ~900 adolescents in each country) were integrated with qualitative research (conducted between 2007 and 2011) with a nested sample of older cohort children in Ethiopia (n = 25) and India (n = 25) using an iterative process. Logistic regression models were fitted to examine potential risk factors for injuries. Injuries were a concern for adolescents in all countries and occurred during work, recreation and sports or transportation. Being male was associated with an increased risk for all types of injuries, whereas being poor was only significantly associated with work injuries. Area of residence (urban vs rural) made a difference in some countries and for some kinds of injuries as did perceived health status. Qualitative findings highlight the consequences of injuries not only for the adolescents but also for the social and economic status of the entire household. Injury prevention programmes need to be specific to cultural and environmental settings, expectations of adolescent's responsibilities and responsive to the context of poverty.

The Impact of Fiscal Policy on Poverty in Ethiopia: A Computable General Equilibrium Microsimulation Analysis

Ethiopia has implemented various fiscal policy reforms in the past decade. Most of these reforms center on indirect taxes and pro-poor expenditure patterns. This study investigates the economy-wide impacts of these fiscal policy changes on poverty. To this effect, the study used a static computable general equilibrium (CGE) model linked to a microsimulation (MS) model. The CGE model used the 2005/06 social accounting matrix (SAM) and the MS model used the 2004/05 Household Income, Consumption and Expenditure (HICE) survey to investigate household poverty by way of the consumption expenditure changes from the CGE model. The fiscal policies simulated are domestic indirect taxes, government consumption expenditures, and government transfers to households. The findings of the study suggest that the increase in revenue from indirect taxes has worsened the poverty state of households. The results from the CGE model have all shown decline in real GDP, sectoral output, employment and welfare. In contrast, the study found improvements in the poverty state of households as a result of the introduction of various short-run expenditure measures. However, examination of the net effect revealed worsening poverty at the national level in general and for rural households in particular. On the other hand, poverty tended to decline among urban households. The major conclusion is that the tax policy has dominant adverse effect on poverty in the short-run. Thus, policy makers need to take into account these adverse effects and come up with pro-poor spending policies that would protect households from the negative strains while the financing policies go along. Keywords: Fiscal policy, poverty, indirect taxes, government consumption expenditure, government transfers, social accounting matrix, computable general equilibrium, household income, consumption and expenditure survey, microsimulation JEL Classification : H30, H53, I32

Agricultural water management and poverty in Ethiopia

AbstractThe main focus of this article is to explore whether access to selected agricultural water management (AWM) technologies has led to significant reduction in poverty and, if they did so, to identify which technologies had higher impacts. In measuring impact we estimated the average treatment effect for the treated on crop income and measured the differences in consumption expenditures per adult equivalent of those with access and without access using matched data. The estimated average treatment effect was significant and amounted to USD 82 per season. Moreover, there was 24 less poverty incidence among users of AWM technologies compared to nonusers. All technologies were found to have significant poverty reducing impacts with micro dams, deep wells, river diversions, and ponds leading to 37%, 26%, 11%, and 9% reduction in poverty incidence compared to rainfed system. Finally, our study identified the most important correlates of poverty on the basis this we made the policy recommendations to build assets (AWM technologies, livestock, etc); to enhance human resource development and improve the functioning of labor markets for enhanced impact of AWM technologies on poverty.

Poverty reduction impact of food aid in rural Ethiopia

This paper evaluates the impact of food aid (food-for-work and free food distribution) on rural poverty in Ethiopia. Using household panel survey data, we estimate causal impacts using difference-in-difference matching methods and endogenous switching regression. We find that while participation in both types of food aid programmes reduces the incidence of poverty, their impact is not equal. Participation in food-for-work did not contribute to reducing the poverty gap and distribution among the poor, while free food distribution is effective in reducing all poverty measures. Results also show a heterogeneous impact of food aid on poverty across gender.

International Migration, Remittances and Poverty Alleviation in Ethiopia

The article explores the impact of international remittances on the Ethiopian economy as well as the livelihoods and welfare of households. A simple dynamic econometric model, Vector Autoregressive (VAR) model, was used to assess the impact of international remittances on absorption, spending and output. Moreover, we used binary outcome model to test whether remittances have an impact on the welfare of households. Besides, the study made use of macroeconomic data and data from the Ethiopian urban household survey. It was found that remittance shocks positively affect macroeconomic variables; the effect remained to be volatile in the very first periods after the shock. However, the impacts tend to sustain in the years after the fifth period. Moreover, through the positive (but inelastic) relationship between growth and poverty, private remittance inflows have an important implication for poverty in Ethiopia. International remittances significantly reduced the poverty incidence among the urban households in the country. It was also found that female-headed households are more likely to use remittance more effectively than male-headed households are.

The persistence of urban poverty in Ethiopia: a tale of two measurements

This article investigates dynamics of poverty in urban Ethiopia using both subjective and objective definitions of poverty. The two sets of estimates of persistence and recurrence of poverty are similar, suggesting that consumption-based mobility or poverty persistence estimates are not seriously distorted by measurement error.

Implementing Policies for Chronic Poverty Reduction in Ethiopia

This study explores the implementation of policies that respond to chronic poverty in Ethiopia. It demonstrates that Ethiopia’s two PRSPs contain a range of policies which are either inclusive of the poorest or are specifically targeted at addressing the roots of chronic poverty and ameliorating its symptoms. On the whole, the study finds that the government has committed its resources and political will to the implementation of these policies. This commitment has resulted in some significant improvements in access to services for chronically poor groups, and greater social protection for chronically food insecure people in rural areas. The study, however, shows that a range of factors limit the chronic poverty impact of some policies and programmes. These limiting factors include: capacity and resource constraints at all levels; poor sectoral, policy and programme linkages; political and ideological factors; and limited accountability and substantive responsiveness to the voices of chronically poor citizens.

Understanding Urban Chronic Poverty: Crossing the Qualitative and Quantitative Divide

This paper summarises the recent quantitative and qualitative evidence on urban poverty in Ethiopia. The analysis of poverty dynamics is difficult and has been neglected, hence most of the studies reviewed here focus on urban poverty at a particular point in time. The paper also attempts to discuss in some detail what little evidence exists on urban chronic poverty. We discuss the consistency of findings across studies which use different methodological approaches and consider key correlates or dimensions of poverty such as livelihood insecurity, gender, income/total household expenditure, prices and HIV/AIDS. Finally, the study identifies the emerging research agenda, future research strategy and activities. Since most of the studies reviewed are static in nature, it is suggested that future research should focus on the analysis of household welfare in a dynamic sense. The studies reviewed in this paper come from a variety of sources. Academics, NGOs, independent research institutions, World Bank country poverty economists and other poverty consultants presented papers. Given this and the differences in their methodological approaches to the study of urban poverty, it is particularly encouraging to see an overlap of research agendas and consistency of findings on key correlates of urban poverty and its trend.

Outcomes of Orphanhood in Ethiopia: A Mixed Methods Study

The paper addresses the question of whether parental death always has a strongly negative effect on children’s outcomes using quantitative and qualitative data from Young Lives, a longitudinal study of childhood poverty in Ethiopia. It investigates the validity of potential mediating factors identified by other studies in Sub-Saharan Africa using data from the whole sample (n = 973) and explores these processes in-depth through the experiences of three orphans in one community in Addis Ababa. The paper concludes that the outcomes of orphans and non-orphans in poor communities are not significantly different, supporting the need to address vulnerability at a societal level. Nonetheless, specific groups, for example, older female children who have lost their mothers, may face particular risks that should be addressed with targeted interventions.

‘Stew Without Bread or Bread Without Stew’: Children’s Understandings of Poverty in Ethiopia

This paper explores children’s understandings of poverty, ill‐being and well‐being in Ethiopia using data collected through group exercises with children aged 5–6 and 11–13 participating in Young Lives, an international study of childhood poverty. In some respects the characteristics of poverty reported by children resemble those reported by adults participating in similar exercises. However, the children’s addition of appearance and clothing, and their explanations of the reasoning behind the importance of these indicators of well‐being reflect growing inequalities in Ethiopia, where experiences of relative poverty and social exclusion are increasingly common. This evidence argues for broadening the focus of child poverty reduction to include the psychosocial costs of lacking the culturally specific resources required for full participation in society. The paper also illustrates ways in which poverty can be explored by asking about ill‐being and that children as young as five years are able to address these themes through well‐designed research methods.