This study analyzes the factors influencing female food-for-work (FFW) participation in the Southern Shoa region of Ethiopia. The objectives are to determine the significant factors that affect women's participation in FFW projects and to explain this behavior with socio-economic and other factors. Using data from a public works project conducted in 1991 by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), the Ethiopian Nutrition Institute (ENI) and the Institute of National Nutrition (INN), analyses were done on a sample of 655 females from three awrajas (districts) in Southern Shoa. The sample consisted of 28.4 percent females who participated in FFW and 71.6 percent who did not participate in FFW activities. More than 85 percent of the female sample had no education, over half were single and 48 percent of the women were unemployed. A logit probability model was used to explain women's participation in FFW projects. The results indicate that family size, occupation, marital status, reproductive status, total non-food expenditures, amount of output sold from agricultural production, women's wages from FFW and wages from other agricultural work were the most significant factors influencing female FFW participation. The family size variable had the most significant impact on increasing women's probability of participating in FFW projects. For the study's sample, women with larger family sizes are more likely to participate in FFW projects. Those who are not gainfully employed are also more likely to participate in FFW activities since they view FFW as a source of employment. Women in polygamous households are less likely to participate in FFW than women in monogamous households. In terms of a woman's reproductive status, those who are not pregnant and not lactating are more likely to participate in FFW programs. It was found that the greater the non-food expenditures incurred by the household, the more likely women participate in FFW; the less output sold from agricultural production, the greater the likelihood that women engage in FFW; the higher a woman's wages from FFW, the more they were attracted to FFW programs; and interestingly, the higher the wages from agricultural work (non-FFW), the more likely they participate in FFW activities. / Master of Science

Thesis (M.Dev.) --University of Limpopo, 2009 / Food insecurity is one of the most important development challenges in Ethiopia. To reduce food insecurity, the current government has adopted various policies. Amongst policies employed by the government are, namely: Agricultural Development Led Industrialization (ADLI) of 1995, which focus on national level; and the Food Security Strategy (FSS) which gives emphasis to household food security. As partner in development process, the Kale Heywet Church Development Program (KHCDP) has been implementing development projects in Southern Ethiopia to improve household food security. In this study, an attempt is made to assess the role of Kale KHCDP on household food security in southern Ethiopia. The study used both quantitative and qualitative methods to collect data from 109 sample households in Baso and Kuto Peasant Associations (PAs) of the Kucha District in Southern Ethiopia. More specifically, household questionnaire, focus groups, and individual or key informant interviews were applied to gather primary data from the field. The study also used secondary sources to review relevant information. The study found that KHCDP has played a critical role in promoting household food security by implementing different strategies to increase food production and income. The study, however, pointed out that KHCDP household food security strategies are weak in terms of creating access to inputs and technologies; promoting water resource utilizations; and providing extension and follow-up support. The study also identified low level of household participation and risks in long-term sustainability of food security interventions. Therefore, this study suggests that KHCDP needs to review its strategies and extension approaches.

This study examines rural household food security and its determinants in drought-prone Amhara Region of Ethiopia by focusing on Lay Gaint district as a case study site. A range of factors from physical environmental circumstances to policy and institutions-related issues determine households‟ vulnerability to food insecurity and livelihood outcomes. The survey results showed that the majority (74%) of the sampled households experienced food insecurity. The situation was worse among female-headed households such that 86% of them were food insecure. The study revealed that, despite the low level of productivity related to local environmental constraints, rural livelihoods remain undiversified with small scale rain-fed agriculture to provide the primary source of livelihood for the large majority of households (~93% of respondents). Only about 25% of the respondents participated in some form of non-farm or off-farm activities, but with only little contribution to their total annual incomes. Food insecurity is a chronic problem in that, on average, households in the study area consume from own production for only about six months. The study found out that the majority of households (about 80%) perceived annual rainfall to be inadequate to support the growing of crops and grazing of animals. The main adaptive strategies employed by the majority of households included diversifying livestock kept, planting trees and diversifying crops. The study revealed that incidence, depth and severity of food insecurity of the food insecure households showed that Woina-Dega and Kolla agro-ecologies are prone to vulnerability to food insecurity. This suggests that development interventions that are geographically differentiated; and build household assets will improve household food security in the study area, and in other similar environments in the country. / Geography / D.Phil.

This study examines rural household food security and its determinants in drought-prone Amhara Region of Ethiopia by focusing on Lay Gaint district as a case study site. A range of factors from physical environmental circumstances to policy and institutions-related issues determine households‟ vulnerability to food insecurity and livelihood outcomes. The survey results showed that the majority (74%) of the sampled households experienced food insecurity. The situation was worse among female-headed households such that 86% of them were food insecure. The study revealed that, despite the low level of productivity related to local environmental constraints, rural livelihoods remain undiversified with small scale rain-fed agriculture to provide the primary source of livelihood for the large majority of households (~93% of respondents). Only about 25% of the respondents participated in some form of non-farm or off-farm activities, but with only little contribution to their total annual incomes. Food insecurity is a chronic problem in that, on average, households in the study area consume from own production for only about six months. The study found out that the majority of households (about 80%) perceived annual rainfall to be inadequate to support the growing of crops and grazing of animals. The main adaptive strategies employed by the majority of households included diversifying livestock kept, planting trees and diversifying crops. The study revealed that incidence, depth and severity of food insecurity of the food insecure households showed that Woina-Dega and Kolla agro-ecologies are prone to vulnerability to food insecurity. This suggests that development interventions that are geographically differentiated; and build household assets will improve household food security in the study area, and in other similar environments in the country. / Geography / D. Phil. (Geography)