Please read the abstract in the section 00front of this document / Thesis (PhD (Food Science))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Food Science / unrestricted

Bibliography: leaves 131-155 / The central objective of the present research was to provide a better understanding of stereotype threat and its underlying effects on female high school students’ intention to major in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields. Specifically, the study investigated the intervening effects of mathematics/science self-efficacy and the conditional effects of perceived social support with regards to the implications of stereotype threat. For this reason, three studies were conducted. Participants were female (Study 1 – 3) and male (Study 1) high school students from Harer and Dire Dawa Regions, located in the Eastern part of Ethiopia. Study 1 provided evidence that both female and male participants were well aware of the existence of the negative stereotype about females’ mathematics/science ability. Participants reported that the Ethiopian society attributes less mathematics/science ability to females than to males. Although female participants were well aware of the existence of the negative stereotype about females’ mathematics and science ability, they did not endorse it. Study 2 showed experimentally that stereotype threat reduces indeed females’ intention to major in STEM fields. Moreover, Study 2 revealed that mathematics/science self-efficacy mediated the relationship between stereotype threat and females’ intention to major in STEM fields. Study 3 addressed the role of social support. The results revealed that female participants who felt socially supported in their intention to major in a STEM field were found to be resistant to the negative effects of stereotype threat. In other words, it is the interaction between stereotype threat and the lack of social support that reduces females' intention to major in STEM fields. The findings of the present study are discussed in relation to stereotype threat theory and related literature as well as in relation to potential educational interventions relevant for the Ethiopian context. / Psychology / D. Phil. (Psychology)

In surveying the literature on land tenure reform in Africa, what can readily be observed is that much of that body of work has comprised a markedly econometric and technical focus, to the neglect of evidently contiguous political factors. As a result, fundamental structural impediments to reform efforts have largely been ignored - a fact that may be reflected in the failure of many titling interventions. In light of this omission, the nature of political economy in both Ethiopia and Africa more generally is delineated in this thesis, in order to construct a more rounded conceptual framework through which the issue of land tenure can be deciphered. In so doing, the model of the ‘neopatrimonial’/anti-developmental state is utilised as a benchmark against which twentieth century Ethiopian regimes, and in particular the incumbent EPRDF Government, are assessed. Considerable evidence is uncovered to support the view that, despite its unique historical experience of independence, contemporary Ethiopia nevertheless fits with many key aspects of the neopatrimonial model – most notably in the Government’s pursuit of political survival and revenue to the neglect of long-term sustainable development. It is therefore argued that political imperatives have undermined the establishment of a progressive economic agenda in the country, and the ways in which this has affected land tenure are delineated. Moreover, it is demonstrated that the contemporary debate on tenure reform in Ethiopia has taken a form that is somewhat myopic and circuitous, possibly in an attempt to circumvent discussion of controversial political issues. It is argued that this apolitical stance has undermined not only the debate itself, but also the practical intervention strategies that have emerged from it, such as the recent land titling and administration project in Ethiopia. It is therefore concluded that the only means of escape from this theoretical and practical impasse is to reintegrate politics into the analysis.

A regional range development project has been established in southern and southeastern Ethiopia, and the planning area has been jointly studied by the Imperial Ethiopian Government and the United States Agency for International Development (JSAID). I have been associated with both the feasibility studies and the actual implementation of the program from 1965 to 1969, and this experience with the project provided data for this dissertation. The area is inhabited by different ethnic groups who are almost all nomadic and have a subsistence life based on production of various classes of livestock. They have great variability in customs, religions, social and cultural beliefs, and languages. Excellent beef cattle are indigenous to the region, but there are many current cattle production and management problems in southern and southeastern Ethiopia. Among the most critical problems are diseases, poor nutrition, and lack of organized marketing. Lack of water is also a limiting factor; it causes shortage of roughage, lack of proper nutrition, retarded reproduction, high mortality, especially among young individuals, lack of surplus animals for market, and no contribution to national revenue. To solve some of the existing problems, the Imperial Ethiopian Government initiated a water development program in the early 1960Is, but because of the type of planning, there was very little economic benefit from the investment for range water development. There were no real defined objectives other than the provision of water to cattle with no management and maintenance once the initial construction was done. Water development in combination with veterinary service to solve the water shortage and disease problems was analyzed in this dissertation. Objectives were: to describe the existing physical, social, and cultural conditions in southern and southeastern Ethiopia; to analyze the economics of veterinary services and water development with and without management; and to discuss management and social changes necessary to insure that water development accomplishes desirable economic and social changes. Three development alternatives were considered and analyzed. The three alternatives were: mobile veterinary service, mobile veterinary service plus water development, and mobile veterinary service plus water development and management. A rate-of-return analysis was used in evaluating the economics of the development alternatives. Each alternative was analyzed for four different grazing capacities and six different percentage increases in sales each 5 years in addition to the basic 37 annual sale that now exists. Thus, 72 different sets of rates of return data were obtained. Under no circumstance should the planning rangeland be exploited and mismanaged through overgrazing and other improper management practices. With capital resources in short supply and long planning periods, exploitation of available range resources was not considered as an appropriate alternative. Rates of return greater than the 47 to meet the Government's return on investment would indicate the presence of net income to achieve social, cultural, and economic changes among producers in the planning area. At 4%, the Government will recover the money invested for development, but the producers may not gain from the investment. Based on an economic analysis of each of the three development alternatives, the best alternative satisfying the objectives as outlined in this dissertation would be the development with management alternative. With 2560 animal units per year per management unit grazing capacity, and with a 47 increase in animal sales each 5 years, desired objectives would be met. Based on the economic analyses made in this dissertation and if specific livestock sale goals are met in the early years of a project, a suitable annual payment scheme to recover development and maintenance costs while still providing economic incentives to producers could be formulated.

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This study explored the process of constitutional interpretation and constitutional review in Ethiopia and determined the role of the courts. It examined the different suggestions made by different authors and officials regarding the respective role and function of the courts and the House of Federation in interpreting the constitution and exercising the power of constitutional review. It also seeked to inquire the counter-majoritarian problem which focused on the relationship between judicial review and democracy. The thesis also inquired into the legitimacy of the Ethiopian approach to constitutional review. In this regard it seeked to determine whether the approach represents and adequate response to the counter-majoritarian problem. It also seeked to determine whether Ethiopia has adopted an institution that is well suited, competent and impartial to discharge the task of constitutional interpretation and constitutional review.

Digitized by Kansas Correctional Industries

This is a heuristic study about successful Ethiopian refugees in British Columbia. Heuristic research is another building block of phenomenological inquiry; it permits the researcher to discover his/her lived-experience within the phenomena. This research explores and discovers the lived-experiences of participants as articulated feelings and views on their sense of identity. Each participant's stories stand for the realities of who they are and how they made the transition of reconstructing their identity as a means of assimilating into Canadian society. Furthermore, their stories describe the patterns and processes of negotiation and re-negotiation of their identity in order to become successful in their new social environment. This research highlights ten participants' processes of adapting into a new environment, reconstructing their identity, and embracing change. Although the explored experiences represent only those who made a successful transition and reached a high degree of adaptation and assimilation in Canadian society, the results of this study provide a deeper understanding of Ethiopians in general, the integral role of culture, and its influence on individual identity to most immigrants. The study provides imperative information, as told by Ethiopians, to community, practitioners, professionals, and scholars as well as adds new knowledge about the complexity of Ethiopian immigrants' stories as no one had asked them before this study. The study found that participants whose tribal background was considered to be of a minority and experienced oppression and discrimination by the dominant tribe in Ethiopia, coped well with reconstruction of identity as well as with barriers in the Western world. Those who were rooted from the dominant tribe in Ethiopia, experienced adaptation and assimilation in the Western world difficult and at times intolerable. Similarly, the individual definitions of success and failure are associated with the strength of, or in-depth knowledge of one's sources of identity and the degree of connectedness and interdependency. The findings are comparable to explanations of identity patterns (individual, cultural, social, and political) found in similar studies of immigrants or refugees. However, one may notice that none of the participants in this study were from the same tribe and each participant's experiences and meanings either in Ethiopia or Canada are different. Nonetheless, the general sense of identity, roles, and influences of community found in this study validated the explanations and definitions posited in the literature (i.e., associated factors for self definition as well as influences on social and cultural identity). Furthermore, the extracted meanings also have confirmed sources of identity as being congruent to the adopted theory of this research as it linked to their roots, exposure to diversity, and creativeness not only in determining their skills of accepting or rejecting their new social, cultural, and economic values, but also allowing them to select (filter) values and beliefs that are desirable to become a member of the community in their new country. / Graduate

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.

No description available.