Description

Abstract: This report presents brief descriptive profiles of key socioeconomic aspects of 19 communities in South Wello Zone and 2 communities in Oromiya Zones of Amhara Region, Ethiopia. The information was collected by a multidisciplinary team using rapid appraisal methodology as part of a joint research project of the BASIS-CRSP1 Horn of Africa Program and the Institute for Development Research (IDR) of Addis Ababa University. The research team conducted the 21 rapid community assessments from April to July 1999, in the midst of a widespread and severe food crisis throughout many parts of the country, including the study area. Thus, this report is valuable not only for its “snapshot” qualitative inventory of data on agriculture, landholding, labor, marketing, food security, and relate topics, but also for its depiction of local perceptions and coping strategies during a very troubled time.