Social Innovations for Empowering Pastoralist Women: Evidence from Dasenech, South Omo, Ethiopia

Melisew Dejene (), Tafesse Matewos and Addisalem Adem
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Melisew Dejene: Department of Journalism & Communication, Institute of Policy & Development Research, Hawassa University, Hawassa P.O. Box 05, Ethiopia
Tafesse Matewos: Department of Geography & Environmental Science, Institute of Policy & Development Research, Hawassa University, Hawassa P.O. Box 05, Ethiopia
Addisalem Adem: Department of Social Protection Management, Ethiopian Civil Service University, Addis Ababa P.O. Box 5648, Ethiopia

Social Sciences, 2024, vol. 13, issue 5, 1-16

Abstract: Innovations are vital for empowering women and youth by introducing alternative pathways for development. This study focuses on a social innovation project executed in Dasenech, South Omo, Ethiopia. The project introduced innovative initiatives (index-based livestock insurance (IBLI), a goat market value-chain system, an eco-friendly hydraulic ram pump, fodder production, and a vet drug store). Key among the goals of these initiatives was the empowerment of pastoralist women by promoting the livelihood base of the Dasenech Pastoralist Community. The present study assessed the contributions of these innovations to the empowerment of women and youth. We employed a mixed-method research approach to pool both quantitative and qualitative data using a household survey through Kobocollect, FGDs, KIIs, and case stories. We computed empowerment by employing a 5DE model with five domains, i.e., production, resources, income, leadership, and time use. The findings suggest that 93% of the project participants were empowered, recording “adequate achievements” in line with the 5DE model, i.e., with scores of at least 80% in four of the five requirements. Technological innovations that properly assess the context of the intervention area and, most importantly, that use proper avenues of implementation with women and youth as owners and leaders, have the capacity to empower such individuals in the economic, social, and political spheres.

Keywords: social innovations; empowerment; 5DE; pastoral women and youth; VESAs; Ethiopia (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: A B N P Y80 Z00 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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