Exploring the Socio-Economic Impact of International Remittance on Families Life in Omo Nada District, Jimma Zone, Southwest Ethiopia

Abstract

Remittance is a transfer of money by a foreign worker to household income in their homeland. The main objective of this study was exploring the socio economic impact of remittance on families’ life in Omo Nada District. Qualitative research approach was employed with a case study research design. The study used purposive participant selection technique with data saturation point to determine sample size. In-depth Interview, FGD and observation were used as methods of data collection. Based on this in-depth interview with ten remittances recipient families and two FGDs with community representative and remittance recipient families were conducted. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Triangulation was utilized to enhance the trustworthiness of the data and information from the participants kept in secret using codes instead of their name. The finding revealed that remittance has both positive and negative socio-economic impact on recipient family. While fulfilling families household consumption and improving the livelihood of the receiver family where the economic impact of remittance and encourage social network, safeguarding the disadvantaged among families, encourages families to migrate from rural to urban, family breakdown and motivate people to emigrate were the social impact of remittance. The finding also shows that those families who used their remittance properly were benefited as it improves the family socio economic conditions. While inappropriate use of remittance has a negative consequence on the socio economic condition of families. Finally, the implication addressed major areas for social work intervention, education, policy, practice and further studies in general. The usage of remittance is identified as a major area which needs intervention by social workers, policy makers and the researcher in particular.