What do female-headed households’ livelihood strategies in Jimma city, South west Ethiopia look like from the perspective of the sustainable livelihood approach?

Abstract

Female-headed households have now become highly prevalent across the world. Much research in low-income urban populations has identified female household heads as more vulnerable and less secure livelihoods than male households. The study’s main goal was to investigate the livelihoods of female-headed families in Jimma town, southwestern Ethiopia, using a sustainable livelihoods approach (SLA), which examines and evaluates community experiences of poverty and disadvantage. However, this study used a qualitative approach supported by a phenomenological study design to achieve the stated objectives. The study data were collected from March–to July 2019 and involved 30 in-depth interviews, five key informants, and two focus group discussions. This study revealed that since female heads of households have low levels of educational attainment and employment access, most of them fall into the low-income groups, making their livelihood insecure. Besides, based on their gender and marital status, they are treated in hideous ways and isolated from participating in societal affairs, and they are vulnerable to violence. The widowed and those females living as FHHs were mainly blamed for their husbands’ deaths. Therefore, local governmental and non-governmental organizations should facilitate training in income-generating activities and access to credit services for those with the motivation, desire, and capacity to run their businesses and various activities.