Gender Role and Pastoralist Women Involvement in Income Generating Activities: Case Study of Women Involved in Fire wood Selling in Obda and Yubdo Pastoralist Associations of Yabello District of Borana Zone, Oromiya Regional State, Ethiopia.

Abstract

Evidences had shown that the residents of pastoral areas have the lowest access to education and human health services in the country, and additionally pastoral areas had the least developed infrastructure indicating their exclusion from mainstream development program. The study was aiming at assessing the involvement of women in income generating activities; specifically the effect of fire wood selling on gender role and responsibilities. A qualitative study was employed in order to identify the pastoralist women involvement in fire wood selling. The study was conducted at Yabello District, Borana Zone, and Oromia Region of Ethiopia. The result had shown that firewood collection and selling a laborious task and time consuming activity. Also, the activity undermines the social capital of women as they spend a substantial amount of time on collection and selling firewood. However, despite the less involvement of men in domestic activities, their involvement had improved somewhat in their participation in the selling activity. Though the income from the fire wood selling activity was small, it enabled women to be a co-bread winner and in some instances to be a sole bread winner through their provision to household necessities. Women’s participation in income generating activities had a profound impact on household livelihood. Their involvement in these activities not only derives additional cash to the family but also attribute to women’s increased self esteem as a result of earning an independent income. Moreover, women’s engagement in such activities contribute to fulfilling the household necessities; though this might be new and deviates from what the pastoral people used to practice previously.