This book documents transformation in twenty rural communities in Ethiopia, that have changed almost beyond recognition, in complex ways with different implications for various people--men and women, adults and youth, rich and poor. The communities have become less rural through urbanisation and more outward-looking, including through labour migration. The local economies have become more diversified, offering opportunities for entrepreneurial individuals and greater participation of women. At the same time inequalities have risen and young people's aspirations have grown with more educational opportunities. However, youth face increased challenges in improving their livelihoods and transitioning to adulthood. The expansion in health care is important, particularly for young women, mothers and babies, though girls still face a range of risks in growing up, and poverty and remoteness affect  the wellbeing of mothers and infants. This book will appeal to policymakers, practitioners, donors and academics seeking to understand Ethiopia today through the experiences of the majority of its people who still live beyond the major conurbations; and the ways their lives have evolved over the last twenty years.

Acknowledgements

Acronyms

Glossary

Contributors

Foreword

Preface by Gebrehiwot Ageba

 

Twenty rural communities in Ethiopia and how they changed: Introducing the WIDE research and the selected policy-relevant topics

by Alula Pankhurst, Catherine Dom and Philippa Bevan

 

Rurbanisation, urban expansion, and thickening rural-urban links (2010-13)

by Philippa Bevan

 

Differentiation, inequalities and social inclusion and exclusion in rural communities

by Alula Pankhurst and Agazi Tiumelissan

 

Youth transitions to adulthood and the role of interventions

by Alula Pankhurst and Agazi Tiumelissan

 

Education in rural Ethiopia (2010-13): aspirations and uncertainties

by Catherine Dom

 

Reproductive health and well-being: girls in transition to adulthood (2010-13)

by Philippa Bevan

 

Reproductive health and well-being: mothers and infants (2010-13)

by Philippa Bevan

 

Economic participation of women and girls in rural Ethiopia (2010-13)

by Lilli Loveday

 

Migrating for work from rural communities (2010-13)

by Catherine Dom

 

Insights on economic success in rural communities (2010-13)

by Tefera Goshu and Catherine Dom

 

Innovation, ''technology transfer,'' and positive social change: models and realities of transformation

by Sarah Vaughan

 

Conclusions: Strengthening the effectiveness of development interventions in changing rural communities

by Catherine Dom and Alula Pankhurst

 

''This book sheds new light on the varied consequences of Ethiopia's turbulent history for her rural communities and those who reside there. The unparalleled longitudinal studies presented here were carried out by many researchers over more than thirty years. Changing Rural Ethiopia is to be recommended to anyone taking an interest in the unfolding of social history in Ethiopia, Africa and elsewhere.''--Gunilla Bjeren, Professor of Gender Studies, Stockholm University

 

''This book provides a wealth of information on the remarkable transformation of the Ethiopian countryside. It is the result of a very ambitious project and the commitment of a select group of scholars for about two decades.''--Svein Ege, Associate Professor in African Studies, NTNU Norway

 

''This excellent volume, rich in socio-economic detail, illustrates how individual women and men in rural Ethiopia struggle to improve their living standard. The validity of the research is enhanced by the unique design of the authors--parallel studies in 20 rural kebeles, representing the largest language groups, religions and survival strategies. This book is a goldmine for all who want to understand about rural transformation in Ethiopia and Africa.''--Eva Poluha, Associate Professor of Social Anthropology, Stockholm University

 

''Along with Ethiopia's continued rise as one of Africa's fastest growing economies since the early 2000s, rural communities and farming households have experienced unprecedented changes including rapid urbanization, improved access to social services and lesser restrictions for engagement in labor migration and commercial pursuits. Drawing on rich longitudinal data from 20 rural communities, the chapters in this volume shade new light on the diversity of this experience and agency of farming households and their members. The analysis replaces erroneous images of ''isolated'' rural villages and broadly ''similar'' smallholder householders that need to be helped in responding to external changes with the reality of internally differentiated rural people who have been varyingly successful in managing these changes.''--Teferi Abate Adem, Research Anthropologist, HRAF at Yale University

Alula Pankhurst is the Young Lives Ethiopia Country Director. He studied social Anthropology at Manchester University and taught at Addis Ababa University. His research interests include migration and displacement, poverty and wellbeing, food security and social protection, and children and youth development.

 

Philippa Bevan is an independent social researcher. She studied sociology at Oxford University and has worked as a researcher at Oxford and Bath Universities and also taught at Bath. Her main recent research interest has been the development and use of complexity-related methods to study social change in rural communities.

 

Catherine Dom is a Principal Consultant of Mokoro Ltd, Oxford, UK, with a post-graduate degree in development at the Universite Libre de Bruxelles, Belgium. She has been involved in Ethiopia as a development consultant since 1999, and in research since 2007. Her interests include education, migration and rural livelihoods.

 

Agazi Tiumelissan is a research assistant with Young Lives Ethiopia. He studied Sustainable Development for his masters at the University of St Andrews. His research interests include education, social inequality and sustainability.

 

Sarah Vaughan is a research consultant and Honorary Fellow of the School of Social and Political Science at the University of Edinburgh. She has taught African politics and social theory in Scotland and Ethiopia, and her research interests include the political economy of development, federalism and nationalism, conflict and power.