Ethiopian Voluntary Resettlement Programme-Lesson to Learn

Abstract

The basic right of people in any society is earning a livelihood, and providing or fulfilling this requirement is a prime duty of the concerned government. Acting towards this end the democratic government of Ethiopia (African continent) has recently launched a resettlement program. The main objective of this study is to provide an overall view of the resettlement program in Bamluk and Sawatamp settlement sites, Jawi district, Amhara Regional State of Ethiopia. A qualitative method of analysis was employed for conducting this study. The informants at the household level were randomly selected to give the possible representative information. Key informants interviews and focus group discussions with resettlers and government representatives at district and zonal levels were held. The study revealed that there is a gap between the program document and its implementation on the ground. There was no consistency with the pillars, key principles, and approaches in the program document. The resettlement’s adverse consequences were the lack of proper preparation. The study indicates that the establishment of infrastructure and social services before the resettlement program are below the minimum standard and the services have not yet been improved in the area. Moreover, small land holdings and the risk of exposure to malaria contributed to the failure of the program. This reveals that the implementation of the resettlement program in the area is very weak.