Master's Thesis from the year 2012 in the subject Business economics - Business Management, Corporate Governance, grade: A, Hawassa University (governance and development studies), course: masters, language: English, abstract: Nowadays, the contribution of micro-enterprises in employment creation, poverty reduction and hence economic growth is getting widespread acknowledgement. However, their performance is usually constrained by various factors. Thus, this research is basically aimed at investigating key determinants of performance among micro-enterprise businesses in Dodola town of Oromia region. It examines the extent to which performance of micro-enterprises is associated with characteristics of the owner and business constraints. To this end, primary data were gathered using interview schedule from a sample of 112 micro-enterprises selected using stratified random sampling. Besides, two Focus Group Discussions were held with fourteen randomly selected micro-entrepreneurs. To further triangulate the data Key informant interviews were held with three MSE office heads. Then after primary data was analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. Characteristics of the enterprises and their entrepreneurs were analyzed using percentage, mean, median and standard deviation. On the other hand, Pearson’s chi-square(x2), paired sample t-test and multinomial logistic regression were used to make inferences about the subject under investigation. In this study, performance of micro-enterprises was measured in terms of two main indicators namely profit and employment growth. The results of paired t-test indicated statistically significant mean difference in socio-economic status of entrepreneurs before and after starting micro-enterprise business. The multinomial logistic regression analysis revealed that education, experience, location and access to formal credit source are significant predictors of profit growth. However, only education was found as a significant predictor of employment growth. Key Words: Micro-enterprise; Performance; Multinomial Logistic Regression; Performance Determinants.

Master's Thesis from the year 2016 in the subject Economics - Case Scenarios, , language: English, abstract: Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) in Assosa town do not show the necessary performance level and some of the enterprises disappear from the market in their infant age. Hence, this study was conducted with the objective of assessing factors affecting performance of micro and small enterprises in Assosa town. After statistical analysis, the study concludes that both external and internal factors affect performance of MSEs and their existence could be improved. Variables such as political, legal, financial, marketing, working premises, infrastructural, opportunity seeking, persistence, commitment to the work, demand for efficiency and quality, goal setting, risk taking, information seeking, and self-confidence positively influence to performance of MSEs (profit) and significantly affect performance of MSEs. Similarly, for capital, variables such as political, legal, financial, marketing, working premises, technological, opportunity seeking, persistence, commitment to the work, demand for efficiency and quality, risk taking, information seeking, and self-confidence positively influence the performance of MSEs (capital) and significantly affect performance of MSEs. In order to reduce the influence of external and internal factors on performance of MSEs, policy makers and the service provider institutions need to consider and revise the extent, intensity, and quality of support and their linkages.

Researchers, corporate leaders, and other stakeholders have shown increasing interest in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)—a company’s discretionary actions and policies that appear to advance societal well-being beyond its immediate financial interests and legal requirements. Spanning decades of research activity, the scholarly literature on CSR has been dominated by meso- and macro-level perspectives, such as studies within corporate strategy that examine relationships between firm-level indicators of social/environmental performance and corporate financial performance. In recent years, however, there has been an explosion of micro-oriented CSR research conducted at the individual-level of analysis, especially with respect to studies on how and why job seekers and employees perceive and react to CSR practices. This micro-level focus is reflected in 12 articles published in this edited volume as a research topic collection in Frontiers in Psychology (Organizational Psychology Specialty Section) titled “Corporate social responsibility and organizational psychology: Quid pro quo.”

With the current Second Growth and Transformation Plan (2015-2020), the Government of Ethiopia expects the agro-industrial sector to play key role in economic growth of the Country. Accordingly, the creation of Integrated Agro-Industrial Parks has been identified as one of the key mechanisms for accelerating the development of the sector and the structural transformation of agriculture. Agro-industrial parks will play a significant role in transitioning Ethiopia from an agricultural-led into an industrial-led economy. In view of that, the development of Integrated Agro-Industrial Parks has been prioritized in Ethiopia’s national development strategy and four Agro-Industrial Growth Corridors have been selected for piloting the establishment of four Integrated Agro-Industrial Parks. The initiative aims at driving the structural transformation of the Ethiopian economy while reducing rural poverty and creating a better environment for increased investments in agro-processing and allied sectors. Since 1981, FAO has been a strong partner of the Government of Ethiopia towards the achievement of national food security and economic growth goals. FAO is working closely with the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources to empower value chain actors and to promote inclusive, efficient and sustainable agricultural value chains. The present document is the second one of a series of detailed analyses of prioritized commodities, which will lead to inclusive, sustainable and stronger agricultural value chains in the Agro-Commodities Procurement Zone of the pilot Integrated Agro-Industrial Park in Central-Eastern Oromia.

Specifically, the paper identifies and analyzes several direct drivers of deforestation and forest degradation in Ethiopia including: forest clearance for both subsistence and large-scale agriculture; illegal and unsustainable extraction of wood mainly for charcoal and firewood; overgrazing; and recurrent forest fires. It also reviews underlying drivers including: rapid population increase and the associated growing demand for land and energy; extensive legal and institutional gaps including lack of stable and equitable forest tenure; lack of stakeholder participation in forest management and benefit-sharing schemes; and weak law enforcement. These drivers and the dominant actors behind them – ranging from small-scale subsistence farmers to national and global investors – are discussed in the context of the political economy, including the policy and institutional framework of the country. The implications of the overall forest condition to the objectives and requirements of REDD+ are evaluated, and key issues that need to be addressed for efficient, effective and equitable implementation of REDD+ are discussed. These key issues include: reconciling the apparently contradictory policies and programs, particularly those that negatively affect the forestry sector; improving the forest tenure and governance system; augmenting economic return from forests to communities and individuals; creating more efficient and effective forest institutions at all levels; and enhancing sectoral and regional coordination among implementing agencies.