Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to assess the urban women livelihood strategies and
challenges in Jimma town. Descriptive design was used to frame the study. The study
employed mixed approach. In the context of rapid urbanization, understanding the urban
livelihood strategies plays paramount role for the policy and development arena.
Accordingly, this study was conducted to understand urban livelihood strategies of femaleheaded households and their challenges. The study employed both random and purposive
sampling technique. Random sampling (lottery method) used to select 121 sample female
headed households in the four purposively selected kebeles. The Primary data were collected
from purposively selected households using household survey, and using six questions as a
theme in the extended livelihood framework for analysis too. The collected data were
analyzed using descriptive statistics to analyze the quantitative and qualitative data. The
finding of the survey result indicates most of the female-headed households in the town were
engaged in petty trade, socioeconomic factors such as access to different resources that
includes social (social networks) and natural capital play certain roles in the livelihoods of
female households and financial problem, food security, unemployment and demotic
workload were among the major challenges of female headed households. On the basis of the
findings it is recommended that institutional support, financial and human capital should be
given priority to enhance the livelihood of the female headed households and stakeholders
like kebele municipality, leaders, town administrations, small and medium enterprise experts
, female affairs should work collaboratively in order to help female headed households to
maximize their income, employment, awareness, and how they create their own business
