Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to assess the role of income generating activities in the socio economic empowerment of women mainly types of IGAs women engaged, decision making, income improvement and challenges faced to join IGAs in Mekan Yesus and Mulu Wengele projects in Sheno town. A mixed research approach was used to address the objectives of the study, and both probability and non-probability sampling were employed. Data were collected from 137 sample respondents selected through simple random sampling using data collection instruments such as questionnaire, in-depth interview, focus group discussion and field observation. Both primary and secondary data were used, and the collected data were analyzed both quantitatively and qualitatively. Data gained from the questionnaire was analyzed by using descriptive statistics such as frequencies and percentages to present results using tables. Evidence gained from in-depth interview, focus group discussions, and field observation were thematically arranged, organized, and described in written text. The study result indicated that women were involved in different types of income-generating activities. The types of income generating activities women engaged were petty trade, animal rearing, informal business and vegetable selling. Women's engagement in income-generating activities has improved their decision-making power in different areas of household issues. It also improved women's decision-making power to visit their relatives or friends with the agreement of their husbands. Beyond this, the finding revealed that their engagement have improved women's decision-making in the use of family planning, determining the number of children to be born in the family and improved the status of women in the family and at the community level. Furthermore, income-generating activities improved women's preferences for what to wear and increased their confidence. In addition, the study result showed that their engagement have improved women's income. The improvement in income brought positive outcomes in terms of getting access to food and health services. The finding of the study also pointed out the challenges women face in engaging in income-generating activities, like husband attitude, lack of initial saving and fear of loan. Both private and non-governmental organizations needs to help women start their own income-earning activities, training before they start work and awareness creation as they can work outside the home
