This study explored the role and effectiveness of a credit guarantee scheme targeting coffee farmers’ cooperatives in Ethiopia. The study, among other things, aims at exploring how provision of a credit guarantee influences supply of institutional credit to coffee farmers’ cooperatives as well as examines cooperatives guaranteed loan utilisation, the resultant changes/impacts and intervening factors. Credit guarantee schemes largely trace their roots in the liberal and neoliberal economic and social contexts. One of the key issues the current study tried to address is examining how a credit guarantee scheme operates in a partially liberal capitalist context where there is pervasive state intervention in the key sectors of the economy, including financial and coffee sectors. The study was conducted in eight zones of the two major coffee producing regions of Ethiopia – Oromia and Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples’ regions. A mixed method with structured questionnaires (at two stages), key informant interviews, focus group discussions and extensive observation were used to collect data from primary cooperatives, financial institutions, coffee extension and cooperative experts. Qualitative analytical methods, descriptive statistics and econometric model were used in analysing the data. The study reveals that most primary cooperatives have weak institutional, business and financial capacities, and limited access to institutional services including credit. The findings show that cooperatives generally have limited role in the coffee production end, but they play an important role in its marketing. The study suggests that coffee or multipurpose cooperatives are not ideally suitable to serve as intermediaries for bank loans. The study reveals that the vast majority of the study cooperatives have potential demand for loans, but revealed low actual demand. Different sets of internal (demand side) and external factors influence cooperatives’ potential and actual demand for loan in different ways. The assessment of the guarantee scheme under analysis shows that though most of its design and operational features are in line with international practices, there are some obvious limitations. Low risk coverage level, limitation in the total volume of the guarantee fund, lack of capital enhancement mechanism for the lending banks, short life span of the scheme, lack of flexibility and adaptation and reliance on a single lending bank are among the notable limitations. In terms of utilisation of the guarantee fund and outreach of the lending activity, the scheme attained limited achievements with a low leverage ratio. However, substantial financial additionality was attained among the borrower cooperatives, but the intervention had little impacts in improving the terms and conditions of loans. The positive effects on the economic/business activities of beneficiary cooperatives include acquisition of processing facilities, increase in member size, increased volume of coffee processed and dry cherry traded and improvement in the income generated from such business activities. However, the scheme had limited effects on cooperatives’ human resources and type of management. A number of internal and external factors appear to influence effectiveness of a credit guarantee targeting farmers’ cooperatives. Several recommendations were made. First, there is a need to integrate attractive features into the scheme that can be periodically revised and adapted. These may include raising the risk coverage level especially at the initial stage, including liquidity boosting mechanism, lowering guarantee fee level, devising longer-term arrangement, integrating strong capacity building and technical support and other incentive packages. Second, the lending banks need to develop suitable loan products, revisit and improve their lending terms, requirements and approaches. Third, if they are to effectively demand for and make proper use of such guaranteed loans, cooperatives need to be supported so as to enhance their organisational, business and technical capacities. Fourth, there is a need for the government to further strengthen provision of a more supportive and enabling legal and institutional environments and relax some of the regulatory frameworks so as to facilitate the lending-borrowing activities. / Development Studies / D. Litt. et Phil. (Development Studies)

The purpose of this study is to demonstrate the value of visual research methods to applied anthropology in the context of exploratory research with farmers in Ethiopia. The three methods of photo-elicitation, participatory photography, and ethnographic film, enrich and expand ethnographic methods to support the client's objective of supporting farmers. The applied project constructs a narrative from the local perspective to help consumers learn more about farmers' lives. The research focuses on specific farmers, and their experiences with direct fair trade and coffee farming. The client sees the application of research produced by ethnographic and visual methods as a good direction not only for his company, but the Fair Trade Industry as a whole.

The relationship between the role of leadership and agricultural cooperatives performance were examined in East, West and South Ethiopia. The hypotheses were tested in a survey of N=162 leaders, managers and directors of primary coffee farmers cooperatives. The results of the test confirmed the overall positive relationship between the role of leadership and agricultural cooperatives performances. This study highlights and gives general view into how the role of leadership can significantly contribute to cooperatives business performances. The results and findings of the analysis indicated that leaders who are most effective at business performances are those who utilize leadership behavior and the skills and trainings required in the cooperatives business organizations. The study encourages further and comprehensive research into the interconnection between the role of leadership, education and skills of leaders, financial management knowledge and decision making competency. The study followed cross-sectional survey design, and employed evaluative quantitative analysis method. The analysis was based on primary data generated through a structured questionnaire distributed to the respondents. Responses to research statements were scaled and converted to analyze the quantitative data of dependent and independent variables based on the role of leadership and associated performance variables. The findings from correlation and multiple regressions in testing the hypotheses showed that there are significant and positive relationship between each of the five independent variables and a dependent variable of business performances. The study concluded that leadership role was very important in cooperatives business performance and, therefore, recommended that leaders of coffee farmers’ cooperatives organizations that wanted to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of their businesses performances need to implement the suggestions stated in the recommendation part of this study about the leadership roles. / Business Management / DBL

The relationship between the role of leadership and agricultural cooperatives performance were examined in East, West and South Ethiopia. The hypotheses were tested in a survey of N=162 leaders, managers and directors of primary coffee farmers cooperatives. The results of the test confirmed the overall positive relationship between the role of leadership and agricultural cooperatives performances. This study highlights and gives general view into how the role of leadership can significantly contribute to cooperatives business performances. The results and findings of the analysis indicated that leaders who are most effective at business performances are those who utilize leadership behavior and the skills and trainings required in the cooperatives business organizations. The study encourages further and comprehensive research into the interconnection between the role of leadership, education and skills of leaders, financial management knowledge and decision making competency. The study followed cross-sectional survey design, and employed evaluative quantitative analysis method. The analysis was based on primary data generated through a structured questionnaire distributed to the respondents. Responses to research statements were scaled and converted to analyze the quantitative data of dependent and independent variables based on the role of leadership and associated performance variables. The findings from correlation and multiple regressions in testing the hypotheses showed that there are significant and positive relationship between each of the five independent variables and a dependent variable of business performances. The study concluded that leadership role was very important in cooperatives business performance and, therefore, recommended that leaders of coffee farmers’ cooperatives organizations that wanted to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of their businesses performances need to implement the suggestions stated in the recommendation part of this study about the leadership roles. / Business Management / DBL

This study was carried out to examine the significance of Coffee-based agriculture in the socio-economic development of rural livelihoods in Ethiopia, with particular emphasis on households in the Borecha District of the Illubabor Zone, Oromia Regional State. In this dissertation, three randomly selected study kebeles2 were considered. The primary data were collected using household questionnaires, observation and key informant interviews. The secondary data were acquired from a review of the diverse and extensive literature contained in journals, textbooks and published and unpublished documents. The target population encompasses 1,600 coffee-growing households in the Borecha District, although the sample included only 120 coffee-growing farmers. Sample selection was performed using a stratified sampling technique to select three kebeles. The data analysis was both qualitative and quantitative, which involved descriptive statistics and general linear model (UNIANOVA, MANOVA). The data are presented as tables, bar charts, and line graphs accompanied by correlations and multiple comparisons that help to interpret the findings and to generate conclusions that support solutions to the identified problems. The findings show that coffee growing has increased the income generated from direct sales and associated employment opportunities. The social contributions realised include that over the past two years, households trend in spending on education increased. Moreover, sampled households access to health facilities changed after they started growing coffee. / Development Studies / M.A. (Development Studies)