The activities, benefits, and challenges of Awada women's self-help groups in empowering women in Sidama region, southern Ethiopia

Abstract

In Ethiopia, there are several types of indigenous rotating savings and cooperative associations. These indigenous associa-tions help members to save fundamental resources like money, labour, and time. Among the inhabitants of central Ethiopia, the Mareko and the Arsi-Oromo have indigenous rotating savings and cooperative institutions known as wijjo and kochoo. Wijjo is a type of indigenous rotating savings association established by neighbouring village women, with the aim of saving milk their cattle produced daily. Kochoo is a type of men's savings and cooperation association. Farmers set up this type of association so its members can take turns taking care of the cattle. For the Mareko and the Arsi-Oromo in Adami-Tulu Gido-Kombolcha, wijjo and kochoo associations are guardians of their resources. This paper assesses the role that both institu-tions play in the social and economic development of the study area.