Urban women livelihood strategies and challenges: the Case of Female Headed Households in Jimma Town

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