Vulnerabilities, Opportunites and Livelihood Implications of Temporary  Inter-rural Child Labor Migration in Sekela District, Northwest Ethiopia

Birhanu, Mengist Zewdie

dc.contributor.author	Birhanu, Mengist Zewdie
dc.date.accessioned	2024-12-05T08:26:32Z
dc.date.available	2024-12-05T08:26:32Z
dc.date.issued	2024-11
dc.identifier.uri	http://ir.bdu.edu.et/handle/123456789/16291
dc.description.abstract	This study aimed at analysing the vulnerabilities and opportunities that temporary inter-rural child labor migrants’ experience at destination and associated livelihood outcomes on migrants and their households at origin in Sekela district. The study utilized mixed methods research involving multi sited research approaches. While questionnaire was the primary source for the quantitative data, FGDs, KIIs, and ICIs were principal sources of qualitative data. Varied methods of analysis including Propensity Score Matching (PSM), binary regressions, one-way ANOVA, chi-square test, and t-test were employed for the quantitative data analyses. Thematic analysis was used for the qualitative part. Most child labor migrants cited local economic pressures such as limited access to modern goods, food scarcity, and environmental degradation as reasons for their migration. Furthermore, the expansion of commercial farms in destination areas, influenced by the globalized market, also played a significant role. Based on empirical evidence, it appeared that the availability of farmland and the extent of livestock ownership were critical in determining whether households participated in child labor migration. Additionally, the presence of migration networks and the number of dependent household members were found to increase the likelihood of household’s involvement in child labor migration. It is found that children migrating for labor were susceptible to exploitation and harm during their journey. Their age, which is below the legal working age, coupled with working in locations away from their homes, exposed them to dual vulnerabilities. They faced multiple risks including precarious employment conditions, health risks, market risks, and risks associated with crime, among others. The impact of shocks or risks on child labor migrants was largely shaped by multiple & interconnected institutional, socio economic, and environmental factors at different levels, particularly at their destinations. Depending on their working conditions, they employed risk management strategies to address their challenges. These responses varied in effectiveness; while some effectively mitigate risks, others may inadvertently worsen them, resulting in more severe outcomes. Regarding the impact of child labor migration on food insecurity, the PSM analysis indicated that child labor migration significantly increased dietary energy consumption, with sending households experiencing an average increase of 192.84 kilocalories per day compared to non-sending households, based on nearest neighbour matching method results. On the other hand, child labor migration had mixed results on the education of child labor migrants. Though it affected their school enrollement, it did not significantly force them to drop out their education pointing towards that quality of education was compromised. Child labor migration supported migrants and their households but it was at the expense of children’s vulnerability. Therefore, to maximize benefits and reduce risks, policy makers should focus on balanced actions at the place of origin and destination. Establishing support groups at migration destinations and expanding labor inspectorates to ensure continuous safety monitoring of child labor migrants are also crucial. Key words: Child labor; Migration; Vulnerability; Opportunity; Destination; Working conditions	en_US
dc.language.iso	en_US	en_US
dc.subject	Geography and Environmental Studies	en_US
dc.title	Vulnerabilities, Opportunites and Livelihood Implications of Temporary Inter-rural Child Labor Migration in Sekela District, Northwest Ethiopia	en_US
dc.type	Dissartation	en_US