Socio-Economic Impact of World Food Programmes Urban HIV/AIDS Project: the Case of Jimma Town

Abstract

This study set out to examine the social and economic Impact of World Food Programmes (WFP) aided project in Jimma town, Oromiya region of Ethiopia. This was a case study research based on World Food Programmes Urban HIV/AIDS Project implementation in stated town. In this thesis quantitative and qualitative methods and techniques were used to gather and analyze data. The techniques that were employed includes project beneficiaries individual interviews , key local government stakeholders interviews, observations of projects intervention outcomes, interviews of other NGOs working on HIV/AIDS. These deliberations were also guided by different secondary sources of data found from the local governments and WFP itself. Random sampling methods were used for the respondents that were participated in this study. In the findings of the research, encouraging social and economic effects had accumulated to WFP Urban HIV/AIDS project beneficiaries in Jimma town. Concerning social impacts of WFP Urban HIV/AIDS project, this research established that 58 out of 62 children of beneficiaries dropped out school before were become the reverse status. Further, the support was clearly effective in making to cover the children’s school fee, solved food shortage as well as improved the health status of the beneficiaries. In analyzing the economic impact, the share WFP’s support on economic impact have also identified and its direct support have an impact of 20.8%, other things being constant, for income of the beneficiaries to improve. It was identified from interview with local governments officers that the working space were given with the prerequisite of WFP supports and those who were agreed to work cooperatively. Finally, this research among others recommends that the concept of involving people living with HIV in programmes addressing HIV/AIDS issues needs to be implemented in reality from both WFP and the local government. WFP should change the strategy from financial grant provision to loans to be returned in some time period without interest. The local governments and their leaders have an important role to play in combating HIV/AIDS, and they need to increase their efforts to recognize and support the proper implementation of projects.