Department of Geography and Environmental Studies

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    MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES: THE CASE OF ADIGRAT TOWN, EASTERN ZONE OF TIGRAY, ETHIOPIA
    (Mekelle University, 2025-08-25) FESSEHA WSELASSIE
    It is widely acknowledged in developed countries that proper solid waste management iscrucial for economic vitality, in addition to securing environmental safety and human health. On the contrary, developing nations like Ethiopia, often fail to realize these economic advantages. Instead, they frequently turn to illegal waste dumping, leading to easy exposure to harsh hazards such, as environmental pollution and public health crises. Hence, the main purpose of this study was to assess of municipal solid waste management practices in Adigrat town, Eastern zone of Tigray, Ethiopia. Accordingly, 196 out of 5852 households of in 3 kebeles of the town were selected using systematic random sampling. Structured questionnaire having both closed-and-open ended questions was administered to the respondents. Moreover, data through interviews and focus group discussion were gathered as supplements to the questionnaire. After the data has been collected, descriptive statistics tables, graphs, percentages, mean and standard deviation and inferential statistics tools - linear regression were used for analysis purpose using with the help of SPSS version 24. The results of the findings revealed that despite high awareness of solid waste management, irregular collection forced the households to store waste for over a week, leading to common practices of roadside and drainage dumping (48.8 percent), and open burning (34.8 percent) and discard the wastes using labourers (16.4 percent). The findings also showed low effectiveness of the town's solid waste management because of collection gaps, no storage, poor enforcement, vehicle shortages, and budget issues. Thus to address issues in municipal solid waste management, it's recommended to raise awareness and provide infrastructure like separate bins for waste sorting, increase accessible collection points and promote their proper use, and support households in reducing, reusing, recycling, and recovering waste to minimize generation and maximize resource use. Moreover, to improve municipal solid waste management, the municipality, in collaboration with stakeholders such as households, private sectors, institutions and NGOs should provide adequate resources like collection vehicles and storage, develop better treatment facilities, expand and ensure reliable collection services, establish and enforce clear waste management policies (including source separation and proper disposal), and allocate sufficient financial resources for infrastructure, personnel, and program implementation.
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    Opportunities and Challenges of Micro and Small Enterprises in Hiwane Town, Tigray
    (Mekelle University, 2025-08-25) Daniel Abay
    The purpose of this study was to assess the opportunities and challenges of micro and small enterprises (MSEs) in Hiwane town. To accomplish this, the researcher employed a cross-sectional study method. The study was carried out using both simple random sampling and stratified proportional random sampling techniques. The total number of micro and small enterprises in the study area was 230. From this total, the researcher selected 120 participants from each sector, along with 5 MSE experts. The target population in this study consisted of individuals engaged in micro and small enterprises in Hiwane town. Data collection methods included questionnaires, interviews, and observation. To analyze the data, both quantitative and qualitative analysis techniques were used. The quantitative data were analyzed using tables, percentages, and correlation analysis, while the qualitative data were analyzed through descriptive narration. The findings of this research indicate that MSEs provide several benefits to society. Some of the opportunities and benefits include serving as sources of employment, supplying various products to the community at relatively low costs, receiving governmental and non-governmental support through loans and funding, providing training, and promoting women and youth empowerment. The major constraints faced by MSEs in the study area include financial problems, limited market access, security issues, inflation, shortages of raw materials, inadequate infrastructure, and political and economic instability. Therefore, it is recommended that both government and non-governmental organizations provide support to MSEs.
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    Socio--economic effects of urban expansion on peri- urban communities: case study of Nebelet Town and its peri-urban areas, Central Zone of Tigray, Ethiopia
    (Mekelle University, 2025-09-25) Brhanemeskel Amare
    Rapid urban expansion has become one of the defining socio-economic and spatial transformations in Ethiopia, bringing both opportunities and challenges for peri-urban communities. In Nebelet town, this expansion has intensified in recent years, driven by population growth, infrastructure development, and increasing demand for residential and commercial land. While such transformations can enhance urban services and create new livelihood opportunities, they often disrupt traditional farming systems and expose vulnerable groups to land dispossession and economic insecurity. Against this backdrop, the central problem addressed in this study is how the urban expansion of Nebelet town has affected the socio-economic well-being of surrounding peri-urban households. The overall objective of the research was to assess the socio-economic impacts of urban expansion on peri-urban communities in Nebelet town, with particular attention to land-use change, livelihood transformation, and equity in the distribution of benefits and costs. A mixed-methods research design was employed. Data were collected through household surveys, key-informant interviews, focus group discussions, and GIS-based land-use analysis. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and regression models, while qualitative evidence was examined through thematic analysis. Findings indicate that rapid conversion of farmland and communal areas into residential plots, roads, and business establishments has reshaped the local economy and livelihoods. On the positive side, some households benefited from improved access to services, increased land values, and new income opportunities in trade and construction. On the negative side, many farmers experienced reduced farmland, tenure insecurity, rising living costs, and social disputes. The effects were unevenly distributed: wealthier and well-connected households gained more, whereas smallholders and female-headed households faced significant losses. Factors such as land tenure security, access to serviced land, education, and proximity to infrastructure were decisive in determining household outcomes. The study concludes that without inclusive and participatory planning, urban expansion in Nebelet risks undermining peri-urban livelihoods and widening social inequality. It recommends strengthening land administration systems, ensuring fair and timely compensation, safeguarding productive agricultural areas, and promoting livelihood diversification through skills training and enterprise development. Participatory governance and effective grievance-redress mechanisms are essential for making Nebelet’s growth more inclusive and sustainable.
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    URBAN WATER SCARCITY AND ITS SOCIO-ECONOMIC IMPACTS IN EASTERN TIGRAY: A CASE STUDY OF FREWEYNI TOWN, ETHIOPIA
    (Mekelle University, 2025-08-25) ZEBIB BISRAT BERHE
    Climate change affected water availability in northern Ethiopia. The main objective of the study was to investigate the underlying causes and impacts of urban water scarcity on households in Freweyni Town, Eastern Tigray. Employing a combination of stratified random sampling (probability-based) and purposive and convenience sampling (non-probability-based), the research gathered data from 338 households through structured questionnaires and analyzed the responses using SPSS version 21. The study applied the Falkenmark Water Stress Indicator as the primary metric for evaluating water scarcity. Results revealed a critical shortfall in water availability, with individuals consuming an average of only 10.52 liters per day—equivalent to 3.83 cubic meters per year—far below the benchmark of 1700 cubic meters per year that signifies water accessibility. This places the town in a state of absolute water scarcity. The root causes identified include rapid population growth, urbanization, financial constraints, and a lack of institutional, technological, and managerial capacity. The consequences of this scarcity are both health-related and economic: households face heightened exposure to waterborn diseases due to reliance on unsafe sources such as unprotected rivers, and they incur additional financial burdens from purchasing water from vendors and repairing outdated infrastructure. Furthermore, the study highlights unequal and inadequate water service delivery across the town. In response to these challenges, the research recommends the development of additional boreholes, strengthening the capacity of water service institutions, adopting sustainable financing mechanisms, and enhancing the involvement of non-governmental organizations and private sector actors in the local water supply system.
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    Irregular Migration Dynamics in Raya Alamata, Northern Ethiopia: Exploring the Patterns, Determinants, and Emerging Risks in Migration to the Gulf Countries
    (Mekelle University, 2025-08-25) Nigus Molla Woldie
    Irregular migration from northern Ethiopia, particularly from Raya Alamata to Gulf countries, has grown significantly in recent years, shaped by intertwined socioeconomic, political, environmental, and social factors. This study investigates the patterns, determinants, emerging risks, and routes of irregular migration using a mixed-methods design. Data were collected through a field survey of 204 respondents, complemented by key informant interviews with returnees and their families, and focus group discussions with local elders and returnees. The findings reveal that economic pressures are the strongest drivers, with poverty (91.7%) and unemployment (84.3%) cited as primary motivators, alongside low agricultural productivity (75%), limited farmland (72.5%), and poor access to credit (63.7%). Political instability, particularly linked to the Tigray conflict, was reported by 95.1% of respondents as a key push factor. Environmental stressors such as land degradation, unreliable rainfall, and weak irrigation infrastructure (71.4%) affect nearly 88% of migrants, reinforcing the emergence of “migration-prone” landscapes. Social networks also play a crucial role: family pressure (66.2%) and connections abroad (53.2%) normalize migration as a networked household strategy. While migration provides important benefits, including remittances (35.8%), improved household living standards (33.3%), asset acquisition (27%), and skill development (6.9%), it exposes migrants to severe risks. These include exploitation (59.3%), unsafe journeys (52%), physical and sexual abuse (48% and 59.3% respectively for women), and legal precarity (36.3%). Migration routes remain perilous, encompassing desert crossings, sea voyages lasting 18–72 hours, and dependence on smugglers who often subject migrants to torture, starvation, and extortion. Three main routes such as via Djibouti, Somalia, and hybrid pathways, were identified, each marked by unique hazards, interception risks, and unpredictable travel durations. The study documents a 93% increase in irregular migration over the past five years, disproportionately affecting youth (97.1%) and women (99.4%), particularly in conflict-affected communities. Coping strategies rely heavily on informal peer networks, with limited humanitarian support. These insights underscore the urgency of comprehensive interventions, including legal migration pathways, protection mechanisms, dismantling of smuggling networks, and stronger institutional support in transit zones. By situating irregular migration within broader socioeconomic and political contexts, this study highlights critical implications for migration governance in Ethiopia and across the Gulf corridor.
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    ASSESSEMENT OF URBAN YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT AND ITS SOCIO-ECONOMIC IMPACTS IN KOREM TOWN, TIGRAY, ETHIOPIA
    (Mekelle University, 2025-08-25) Mulubrhan Gmedhn Kasa
    Ethiopia is one of the most populous country in Africa and in the world with the highest number of its young population as a result of the high fertility rate with the lowest human development index (HDI). The issue of unemployment in general and the youth unemployment in particular is then the most cross cutting issue at national level especially in urban areas which claims a collaborative, integrated and systematic alliance to rationalize it. The research study was conducted with an objective of assessing the driving factors of urban youth unemployment and its socioeconomic effects in the case of Korem town, southern Tigray, Ethiopia. Youth unemployment in Ethiopia, particularly in urban areas like Korem, has become a serious challenge due to rapid population growth, limited job opportunities, poor education quality and weak formal and informal sectors. This situation creates sever socio-economic and political impacts, making it an urgent issue that require effective solutions. The research employed a mixed-method approach, combining both quantitative and qualitative research methodologies and data were collected through questionnaire, interviewing and focusing group discussion methods. The primary data were collected from 283 simple randomly selected youth respondents. As far as the data analysis is concerned, the descriptive statistical analysis like simple frequencies, cross tabulation and inferential statistical analysis like chi-square and p-value tests were used to analyze the data. The logistic regression model revealed that corruption and maladministration, youth population pressure, lack of quality of education, lack of entrepreneurship and life skill training programs as well as lack of formal and informal sectors were found to be the most significant factors of unemployment. As the socio-economic effects of youths unemployment is concerned, socio-economic effects like loss of human capital, increase dependency ratio, rising migration, social evils, and psychological problems like inferiority complex, stress, depression, stigma and discrimination as well as political impacts like political unrest, uprising, and instability are the most common ones. Based on the findings of the study promoting youth enterprises development and self-employment, attracting domestic and foreign investors that can encourage and initiate job opportunities, collaborative hard working on the quality of education, building infrastructural and social facilities etc. were recommended as some of the best solutions to resolve the youths unemployment.