INTERNATIONAL OUTMIGRATION OF FEMALE AND ITS SOCIO-ECONOMIC EFFECTS: A CASE STUDY OF KOKOSA WOREDA WEST ARSI ZONE OROMIA REGION

ABSTRACT This study mainly intended to explore the socio-economic effects of women migration on economic development of kokosa woreda to the Middle East countries. The study mainly aimed at identifying factors motivate female out migration, describe socio-economic effects of female out migration and list challenges of illegal migrants on their way to the Middle East country as kokosa Woreda. The study was used mixed research method and purposive sampling method with employed questionnaire survey, focus group discussion and key informant interview as a data collection instruments. It intended primarily on effects of international outmigration of female on socio economic development of kokosa woreda. As this research findings the basic factors which push female migration were low productivity, unemployment and underdevelopment, poor economic conditions, lack of opportunities for advancement, exhaustion of natural resources and natural calamities as push factors while opportunities for better employment, higher wages, facilities, better working conditions and attractive amenities are identified as pull factors. International migration has both positive and negative effects on origin and destination countries. On the other hand, inflow of remittances from the migrants and improvement of living condition of migrants and their families are positive effects and in contrast, woreda have been losing their human resource power, mainly employed youths and adults, economic inequality and economic dependence by deciding migration as the optimal opportunity rather than job creation attempts are negative effects of migration in kokosa Woreda. Challenges facing young emigrant women during and after travel were inappropriate transport system, plunderer, sexual abuse, and inhuman treatments. Therefore, it is recommended Kokosa woreda administration that a system to be established for closing down causes of young emigrant women, secure the economic welfare of young women in the country, expand domestic job opportunities, create awareness on the psychological, social and cultural consequences of migration to Arab world.