ASSESSMENT OF THE ROLE OF WOMEN IN HOUSEHOLD POVERTY REDUCTION IN KACHABIRRA WOREDA, KEMBATA TEMBARO ZONE, SNNPR

Abstract The main purpose of this study was analyzing the role of women in household poverty reduction in Kachabirra Woreda. The research was carried out by using descriptive survey study design. The total sample sizes of household respondents encompassed in the study were 262 households selected from the rural population in Kachabirra Woreda. To select representative of sample from the source population; the simple random sampling was used. The findings are based on primary and secondary data collections from different sources. The primary data is collected through questionnaires and interview while the secondary data is collected from literature review. Questionnaires were distributed to respondents and in addition key informant interviews were used as an additional instrument to collect information from different local government and non- governmental organizations. The study found that rural women spend their time in productive activities, which directly benefit their families and society in economic terms. The study indicated that the average day for rural women in Kachabirra Woreda involves food processing, water and fuel wood collection, assisting family farm, marketing and labor exchange for community services. Also the level of participation as women’s labor is more participating in economic activities, community services and contributing more in securing their household members food demand than other household members do. Also, in the study area there were few supporting organizations to promote women in household poverty reduction and empower them. It was indicated that their activities and efforts have wide reaching impact in household sustenance and reducing household economic burdens. Although this study does appreciate all these forms of important roles played by women in society, it seeks specifically to find out the economic roles they play in order to help reduce poverty at the household level. The result of the study indicates the significance of the role of women in household poverty reduction and the factors that make their economic roles unrecognized. Generally the contributing factors that influences women’s role in household poverty reduction depends upon the women’s dependence on their on their husband. The other one is ignorance, illiteracy, low socio economic status and traditional, religious and cultural dominance and low political participation in the community. The roles of women, among other things, includes saving, family planning, efficient utilization of resources, productive, reproductive, and community managing role. The role of women in household poverty reduction can be improved through gender empowerment measures and by providing women to productive resources such as credit and loan.