The main purpose of this study is not only to prove the impact of loan interest rates on the poor in the case of Tigray, Northern Ethiopia but also to recommend improvements to address the negative effects of interest rates that could benefit both the borrowers and the lenders. Combinations of quantitative and qualitative analytical tools were used; the data were collected through administration of a questionnaire to a sample of 471 respondents from three regulated MCIs, one cooperative enterprise, and one unregulated NGO. Results were analysed by using SPSS software. A multi-dimensional approach with respect to demand for credit, return on loan, loan repayment, savings, indebtedness, multiple loans, graduation process, and wellbeing was used and results were triangulated to obtain a full picture. The study has concluded that the interest rate in general, primarily charged by DECSI, eroded the envisaged profits that poor borrowers expected to gain. This caused diversified negative impacts on the poor, those who were entrusted to MCIs. It thus brings into question the efficacy of the social responsibility of MCIs. From a simple analysis, it is found that there is a trade-off between servicing the poor with a low loan cost and securing MCIs operational self-sufficiency. Furthermore, the poor are not only sensitive to the loan interest rate but also to the saving interest rate. Therefore, not only access but also the cost of credit and savings matters to the poor. Moreover, the study identified a positive relationship between the financial capacity of MCIs and lending interest rates. Institutions with higher profitability tend to offer lower interest rates on micro loans but not when commercialization is an issue. The study grasped that socially oriented and responsible MCIs can reach the poorest without compromising financial performances, a “win-win proposition”. Finally, the study offers comprehensive recommendations on policy and practice that address potential changes to how MCIs redesign their loan and savings interest rate. The recommendations also address how MCIs develop graduation processes and self-revolving credit scheme frameworks that strengthen pro-poor microcredit modality. Additionally, the study provides a way forward in the design of future microcredit that could help MCIs deliver on their core social mandate. / Development Studies / D. Litt. et Phil (Development Studies)

No description available.

The primary objective of this study was to examine how and to what extent entrepreneurial orientation, firm internal resources and capital structure decisions affect growth of small enterprises, following the resource- based view on determinants of growth and static trade-off theory of capital structure as theoretical frameworks. Regardless of the number of earlier study, there is no consensus among scholars on determinants of growth due to the existence of different theories and metrics of growth. Moreover, as the earlier studies were undertaken in developed countries, their research findings could not permit generalization on the effect of the explanatory variables on growth in less developed countries like Ethiopia. Therefore, this research tried to fill the gap in the existing body of knowledge on determinants of growth by contextualizing the association of growth with firm specific factors and EO from the Ethiopian context, more specifically from the context of Tigray Regional State. Besides, extra variables that were either not considered or might have been tested separately in earlier studies in Ethiopia were integrated into the regression model. In this mixed explanatory cross-sectional research, systematic random sampling techniques and structure questionnaire were applied to collect primary data from 333 small enterprises operating in five urban towns of Tigray region. Dependent variable of the study was growth of small enterprises, defined as logarithm of change in number of employees at the time of establishment and time of survey. The explanatory variables comprise of entrepreneurial orientation with three dimensions, tangible and intangible resources under the control of a given enterprises, capital structure decisions, external factors such as marketing related problems cost and accessibility of infrastructure, government policies and bureaucracy, business development services were also included in the regression model. Descriptive statistics, statistical difference tests, multiple regression analysis and Propensity Score Matching were applied for the purpose of data analysis with the help of Stata version 12 software. Majority of the small enterprises demonstrated moderate degree of entrepreneurial orientation and location nearer to major customers, entrepreneurial orientation, strong financial position, access to credit and leverage have statistically significant positive effect on growth of small enterprises which support the resource based view and static trade-off theory of capital structure as well as the perceived hypothesis. On the other hand, consistent to the hypothesis, age and size of small enterprises showed negative significant effect on growth, that supports Jovanovich’s learning model but against the Girbat’s law of proportionate effect. Moreover, the relationship between education and growth was found to be non-linear or volatile-growth of SEs tend to declined until certain level, reached a minimum level after which SEs with more educated owners tend to grow faster. This implies that unless owners’ years of education reach a very high level of schooling, a given increase in years of schooling could not necessarily result into higher growth rate. Based on the findings, the researcher suggests (i) in order to solve financial constraints of SEs, stakeholder need introduction of National Credit Guarantee Fund, Promotion of non-bank financial services, introduce Mandatory Minimum Bank Loan to small enterprises, establish specialized banking system that specifically support the small enterprise sector, (ii) provide working premises such as shades at concessional cost, (iii) facilitate establishment of small enterprise commercial centers, (iv) strengthen the clustering practices,(v) facilitate provision of adequate infrastructure at reasonable price, (vi) as TVET completed individuals outperform in growth rate, educational institutions in Ethiopia need to incorporate competence based training system and entrepreneurship into their syllabus by strengthening the industry university linkages / Business Management / DBL

The primary objective of this study was to examine how and to what extent entrepreneurial orientation, firm internal resources and capital structure decisions affect growth of small enterprises, following the resource- based view on determinants of growth and static trade-off theory of capital structure as theoretical frameworks. Regardless of the number of earlier study, there is no consensus among scholars on determinants of growth due to the existence of different theories and metrics of growth. Moreover, as the earlier studies were undertaken in developed countries, their research findings could not permit generalization on the effect of the explanatory variables on growth in less developed countries like Ethiopia. Therefore, this research tried to fill the gap in the existing body of knowledge on determinants of growth by contextualizing the association of growth with firm specific factors and EO from the Ethiopian context, more specifically from the context of Tigray Regional State. Besides, extra variables that were either not considered or might have been tested separately in earlier studies in Ethiopia were integrated into the regression model. In this mixed explanatory cross-sectional research, systematic random sampling techniques and structure questionnaire were applied to collect primary data from 333 small enterprises operating in five urban towns of Tigray region. Dependent variable of the study was growth of small enterprises, defined as logarithm of change in number of employees at the time of establishment and time of survey. The explanatory variables comprise of entrepreneurial orientation with three dimensions, tangible and intangible resources under the control of a given enterprises, capital structure decisions, external factors such as marketing related problems cost and accessibility of infrastructure, government policies and bureaucracy, business development services were also included in the regression model. Descriptive statistics, statistical difference tests, multiple regression analysis and Propensity Score Matching were applied for the purpose of data analysis with the help of Stata version 12 software. Majority of the small enterprises demonstrated moderate degree of entrepreneurial orientation and location nearer to major customers, entrepreneurial orientation, strong financial position, access to credit and leverage have statistically significant positive effect on growth of small enterprises which support the resource based view and static trade-off theory of capital structure as well as the perceived hypothesis. On the other hand, consistent to the hypothesis, age and size of small enterprises showed negative significant effect on growth, that supports Jovanovich’s learning model but against the Girbat’s law of proportionate effect. Moreover, the relationship between education and growth was found to be non-linear or volatile-growth of SEs tend to declined until certain level, reached a minimum level after which SEs with more educated owners tend to grow faster. This implies that unless owners’ years of education reach a very high level of schooling, a given increase in years of schooling could not necessarily result into higher growth rate. Based on the findings, the researcher suggests (i) in order to solve financial constraints of SEs, stakeholder need introduction of National Credit Guarantee Fund, Promotion of non-bank financial services, introduce Mandatory Minimum Bank Loan to small enterprises, establish specialized banking system that specifically support the small enterprise sector, (ii) provide working premises such as shades at concessional cost, (iii) facilitate establishment of small enterprise commercial centers, (iv) strengthen the clustering practices,(v) facilitate provision of adequate infrastructure at reasonable price, (vi) as TVET completed individuals outperform in growth rate, educational institutions in Ethiopia need to incorporate competence based training system and entrepreneurship into their syllabus by strengthening the industry university linkages / Business Management / DBL

Text in English / This study aimed at exploring Barriers to compliance with exclusive breastfeeding and timely introduction of complementary feeding practices in Ofla District, Tigray Region in Ethiopia. A quantitative exploratory descriptive study was conducted to explore and describe the barriers that restrict mothers /caregivers to comply with exclusive breast feeding practice until six months and with introduction of solid, semi-solid and soft foods at six months in Ofla District. Data were collected using structured questionnaire, from a total of 112 samples of which 75 mothers and care givers with children aged 0-5 months and 38 children aged 6-8 months participated. The data were entered into a computer and analysed though the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software. The findings revealed that there are barriers related Doer mothers and Non-Doer mothers perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, perceived benefits, perceived barriers, perceived self-efficacy, cues for actions, perceived social acceptability and positive and negative attitudes towards exclusive breastfeeding and initiation of complementary feeding. On the other hand, the participant’s perception of both groups with regard to perception of Divine (God’s) Will on two child feeding practices was insignificantly the same. Both groups perceived that children could get sometimes malnourished because of spiritual or supernatural causes. / Health Studies / M.A. (Public Health)

The purpose of this study was to examine the leadership styles adopted by school principals and their influence on the job performance of primary school teachers in the Tigray region of Ethiopia. The study was designed to gain insight into the kinds of leadership styles presently used, the leadership preference of principals, the perceptions of the teachers and principals regarding the leadership styles of the principals and the effect of the leadership styles on teachers’ performance. The main research question that guided this study was: Which leadership styles are most commonly used by primary school principals in the Tigray region and what is their effect on the performance of teachers? A mixed-methods research design was used with questionnaires as well as a focus group interview as means of data-collection. One hundred and seventy eight principals and 446 teachers comprising 69% male and 31% female teachers participated in the study. The path-goal leadership questionnaire as well as a self-constructed questionnaire to measure teacher performance was self-administered to collect data from the selected principals and teachers, which secured a 97% response rate. During the qualitative phase, eight supervisors participated in the focus group interview. The questionnaire data were analysed using the Statistical Analysis System (SAS) software. Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were conducted and presented in a clear and logical manner. The principals and teachers indicated that all the leadership styles, except the directive leadership style, have a positive impact on the teachers’ performance. Furthermore, the supportive leadership style is the most frequently used style. Importantly, age, qualifications and experience as independent variables had an effect on teachers’ performance. The data also indicated a statistically significant relationship between the job performance of teachers and the leadership styles employed by the principals. The study results make a contribution to the research on the relation between leadership styles and teachers’ performance, especially since no study has been conducted on this issue in the Tigray region of Ethiopia before. It was possible to make several meaningful recommendations for implementation in the Tigray region. / Educational Leadership and Management / D. Ed. (Education Management)

Police expenditure has a direct effect on the efforts of the police to prevent and investigate crime. It also contributes a lot to run various programs used to enhance public awareness of crime to affect the national development of the country. This doctoral study aims at investigating the relationship between police expenditure and crime in the context of Tigray Regional State of Ethiopia. The study is a qualitative study by design. Data pertinent to the study were gathered through interview schedule, which was prepared first in Tigrigna and translated into English later, given to relevant sets of two groups of participants, namely zone and district participants referred hereunder as sample A and Sample B, respectively. Participants of the study have been selected purposively. Data generated from the interview schedule were analysed subject to thematic analysis. Major findings of the study indicate that budget allocation is mainly made on the basis of police functions and activities; many of the workers in police are not aware of the national guideline in planning and preparing budgets, and believe that the national security situation predominantly determines the budget allocation rather than the standards set in the country. A considerable number of the police staff are not aware of the procedures in formulating the budget. They agreed that even though there are clear strategies to prevent and investigate crimes, they are not fully implemented. However, they consensually agreed that priority should be given to crime prevention in allocating budget to police. It further discusses the community participation in raising funds through the community policing program is high, and the aim is to strengthen the police to effectively discharge its responsibilities in maintaining social order and safeguarding the people from crime and crime-related problems. Major recommendations include improving the budget, which is mandatory, and enhancing the community and police partnership is essential. It is also necessary to give much attention to enhance the institutional capacity of police to address community problems adequately through installing various police technologies to which budget improvement is mandatory. The input of the study is finally useful to policymakers to look at the police expenditure and bring their attention into the procedures to avoid budget scarcity apparent in the police institutions not only in the region but also across the country. It helps the police develop various programs inactive due to a shortage in the budget. / ፅሟቕ ወፃኢታት ፖሊስ ኣብ ምክልኻልን ምርመራን ገበን ኣብ ዝግበር ፃዕሪ ብቀጥታ ፅልዋ አለዎም፡፡ ከምኡ ውን ኣብ ብሄራዊ ዕብየት ሀገር ናይ ባዕሉ ብፅሒት እንትህልዎ ፖሊስ ኣብቲ ዕብየት እኹል ግንዛበ ክህልዎን ዝወፁ መደባት ብኣግባቡ ክፍፀሙን አቶም ወፃኢታት ዓብይ ረብሓ ኣለዎም፡፡ በዚ ምኽንያት ውን እዚ ናይ ዶክትሬት ድግሪ መፅናዕቲ ኣብ ሞንጎ ወፃኢታት ፖሊስ ብሄራዊ ክልላዊ መንግስቲ ትግራይን ኣብታ ክልል ዝፍፀም ገበንን እንታይ ዓይነት ርክብ ኣለዎም ኣብ ዝብል ርእሲ ዘድህብ እዩ፡፡ ንድፊ ወይም ዲዛይን ናይቲ መፅናዕቲ ንባባዊ /ኳሊታቲቭ/ እንትኾን እቶም ናይ መፅናዕቲ ሓበሬታት ብቃለ መሕትትን ፅሑፍ መሕትትን ተዳልዮም በቶም ናይ ተሳተፍቲ ቋንቋ ዝኾነ ትግርኛ ተቶርጊሙ ናብ ተሳተፍቲ ተበቲኑ እዩ፡፡ ምስተኣከበ ውን እንደገና ናብ እግሊዝኛ ተተርጊሙ እዩ፡፡ እቶም ዝነበሩ ተሳተፍቲ ኣብ ዞባን ወረዳን ኮይኖም ናሙና Aን ናሙና Bን ተባሂሎም ኣብ 2ተ ጉጅለ ተኸፊሎም እዮም፡፡ ኣመራርፃ ናይቶም ተሳተፍቲ ምኽንያታዊ ወይ ከዓ ይፈልጡ እዮም ዝብል እንትኾን አቲ ዝተኣከበ ሓበሬታ (ቃለ መሕትትን ፅሑፍ መሕትትን) ጭብጡ ብምዝርዛር እቲ ዝተኣከበ ሓበሬታ ተተንቲኑ እዩ፡፡ ዋና ናይቲ መፅናዕቲ ርካቦት ከምዝሕብሮ ንፖሊስ ተባሂሉ ዝብጀት በጀት መበገሲኡ ፖሊስ ንዝሰርሖምን ዝነጥፎምን ነገራት ዘማእኸለ እዩ፡፡ ኮይኑ ግና መብዛሕቲኦም ኣባላት ፖሊስ በጀት ከመይ ከምዝብጀትን ከመይ ከምዝዳለውን ኣብ ዝግለፅ መብርሂ እኹል ዝኾነ ፍልጠት የብሎምን፡፡ በቲ ናይ ፖሊስ ስታንዳርድ እንተይኮነስ በጀት ዝብጀት በቲ ቢሮ ፀጥታን ምምሕዳርን ዘውፅኦ መምርሒ መሰረት እዩ ኢሎም ይኣምኑ፡፡ ከምኡውን ብዙሓት ፖሊሳት ንበጀት መበጀቲ ቀመር ከመይ ከምዝዳለው ኣይፈልጥዎን፡፡ ብመዳይ ምክልኻልን ምፅራይን ገበን እውን ግልፂ ዝኾነ መምርሒን መሳርሒን ዋላ ኳ እንተሃለወ ኣብ ኣፈፃፅሙኡ ጉድለት ይረኣይ እዩ፡፡ በዚ ውን ኩሎም ተሳተፍቲ ከምዘስማዕምዑሉ ንምክልኻልገበን ዝለዓለ በጀት ክብጀተሉ ኣለዎ ኢሎም፡፡ ተሳትፎ ማሕበረሰብ ኣብ ፖሊስ ኮሚኒቲ መደባት ዝለዓለ እንትኸውን በዚ ውን ዕላማ ፖሊስ ኮሚኒቲ ሽትኡ ክወቅዕ ገይርዎ እዩ፡፡ እዙይ ብምህላው ውን ፖሊስ ዋርድያ ህዝቢ ኮይኑ ካብ ገበንን ስግኣት ገበንን ህዝቢ ነፃ ክኾኑ ሓላፍነት ወሲዱ በርቲዑ ንክሰርሕ ሓጊዙዎ እዩ፡፡ ብመዳይ ፅንዓት መቅረቢ እንትድህስስ ንፖሊስ ስራሕቲ ዝለዓለ በጀት ከምዘደልዮን እዚ ውን ፖሊስን ማሕበረሰብን ሓቢሮም ክሰርሑ ኣብ ምግባር ዕዙዝ ተራ ኣለዎ፡፡ ዓቅሚ ፖሊስ ንምዕባይ ኣብ ዝግበር ፃዕሪ እኹል ቆላሕታ ክወሃብ ኣለዎ ፣ ምክንያቱ ‘ውን ዘመኑ ዝጠልቦ ቴክኖሎጂ ንምዕባይ በጀት ወሳኒ እዩ፡፡ እዚ መፅናዕቲ ንፖሊሲ መውፃእቲ ውን ዓብይ ረብሓ እንትህልዎ ንናይ ፖሊስ በጀት ቆላሕታ ክህቡን ዋሐዲ በጀት ፖሊስ ኣብ ምዕባይን ከም ግብኣት ይጠቕሞም እዩ፡፡ እዚ ፀገም ውን ኣብ ትግራይ ክልል ንዘሎ ጥራሕ እንተይኾነስ ኣብ መላእ እታ ሃገር ንዘሎ ፀገም ክፈትሕ ይኽእል እዩ ተባሂሉ ተፀኒዑ ኣሎ፡፡ በዚ ውን ብሰንኪ ሕፅረት በጀት ንዝጎድል ስራሕቲ ፖሊስ ብእዋኑ ክማላእን ክብ ክብልን ዓብይ ጥቅሚ ኣለዎ፡፡ / Police Practice / D. Litt. et Phil. (Police Science)

The purpose of this study was to assess the epidemiology of preventable risk factors for NCDs among the adult population in Tigray, Northern Ethiopia. A quantitative descriptive cross-sectional design was employed to describe the distribution of behavioural and biological risk factors for NCDs, assess the status of knowledge, perceptions, attitude and behaviour of the study participants for NCDs and their risk factors, and a matched case-control study to identify the determinants of hypertension. The data was collected using a structured questionnaire for the interview, physical measurements including weight and height scales, non-elastic measuring tape for waist and hip circumferences, Omron digital BP apparatus for blood pressure and heart rate; Accutrend Plus for measuring fasting blood glucose, cholesterol and triglycerides. For the descriptive cross-sectional study a total of 2347 participants were included, and for the matched case control study a total of 117 cases and 235 controls participated. Behavioural and biological risk factors were assessed. Only 0.8% of the study participants used optimal fruit serving per day. The prevalence of low level physical activity (<600 MET-minutes/week) was 44.8%. The magnitude of ever alcohol consumption was 66.8%. However, the magnitude of khat chewing and tobacco smoking among the study participants was not as high as the other risk factors i.e. 3.3% and 2.3% respectively. The magnitude of hypertension, central obesity, hyperglycaemia, hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia was 9.9%, 22.2%, 3.5%, 30.3% and 32.2% respectively. Factors associated with the risks aforementioned were gender, age, place of residence, education, knowledge status on NCDs, mental stress and others. The status of knowledge on CVDs, breast and cervical cancers, diabetes and their potential risk factors was low and not comprehensive. Misconceptions on NCDs and body size and shape were pervasive. Risky behaviours underlying NCDs were rampant in the study population. Factors related to poor knowledge on NCDs were gender, age, place of residence, education and misconceptions on NCDs. The determinants of hypertension were physical inactivity, duration of alcohol intake, central obesity and mental stress. Awareness raising interventions on NCDs and their risk factors; improving socio-economic status and accessibility to health care settings have to be in place to curb these formidable problems. / Health Studies / D. Litt. et Phil. (Health Studies)

The major objective of this empirical research is to identify and explain the level of regional development and analyse the challenges of policy implementation with special focus on Tigray and Gambella Regions from 1995 to 2015. In line with the research objectives and statement of the problem, this study was designed to determine the level of development of the two regional states, the critical factors of regional growth in the regions, and what the major challenges were in the implementation of regional development policy. This research was explanatory cross-sectional in its design. In this research, both primary and secondary sources were consulted. Key informant interview, document review and observation were used to collect the necessary information. Accordingly, based on their expertise knowledge, and the position they held, a total of 24 regional and federal key informants were purposively selected and interviewed. The findings of the study showed that both regions made remarkable improvements and changes in health, education, road network, agricultural and revenue collection performance. However, contrary to the perceptions of the respondents, the secondary data when divided by regional population showed that in the past 20 years Gambella has been better off in terms of health, education, road networks and some agricultural indicators than Tigray. Tigray, however, grew more in terms of infrastructure than Gambella during the same period. The study found that the Government regional development policy designed and implemented as measured by growth-oriented indicators brought encouraging results. The most important determinant factors for regional economic development between the two sampled regions were: initial historical level of development; capacity of resource utilisation; leadership commitment, cultural differences, recurrent conflicts and insecurity, governance issues, political will, capacity of the regional government authorities; and rent-seeking attitude of politicians and civil servants. To address some of the challenges, few recommendations are made: designing a regional specific development policy, strengthening intergovernmental relations, protecting the environment, ensuring good governance, maintaining peace and security, strengthening capacity building, supporting infrastructural development for Gambella and the provision of additional financial incentives to regions. / Development Studies / D. Litt. et Phil. (Development Studies)

<p>In this study a field study on the implementation of the United Nations Convention on Combating Desertification (UNCCD) in Tigray, Ethiopia has been carried out. The objective of this thesis is to study in general the implementa-tion of the UNCCD in Ethiopia. This thesis consequently focuses on how these issues are executed in practice at different levels, thus national, regional, district and community levels. However the focus is on some of the highly prioritised action programs that are presumed to facilitate the implementation of the UNCCD, which are the Action Programs for promoting awareness and participation, Action programs to improve institutional organisation and ca-pacity as well as Action program for empowerment of women. These action programs are studied in how they are presented at the National Action Plan (NAP) and Regional Action Plan (RAP) as well as how they are executed at different levels, i.e. at the Federal, Regional, district and Community levels. For this purpose the region of Tigray is chosen.</p><p>The result of this study shows that the vast majority of the respondents in the study areas indicated an awareness of desertification in regard to land degradation. The implementation of NAP at this stage, hasn’t reach all the regions around the country however, three regions in Ethiopia, thus the Afar, Tigray and Amhara regions have been chosen as pilot projects in attempt to implement the NAP at regional level and preparation are made to implement the con-vention at different community levels. Officially these regions have been chosen to launch pilot projects since they are situated in the dryland areas and they match the definition of the UNCCD for severely affected areas. At the re-gional level several pilot projects mainly conservation activities that involved the community members are launched in different parts of Tigray. Many opportunities to increase awareness of the land degradation and empower people are created in order to combat desertification, however the success of these activities varies from district to district and community to community and is dependent on the authorities’ intention, ambition, determination and interest as well as the relation they posses with the community members in the society.</p>