YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT AND CONFLICT IN ETHIOPIA; THE CASE OF JANAMORA WEREDA, AMHARA REGION

Abstract

This study explored youth unemployment for conflict, its socio-psychological impacts and possible ways to address the problems in Janamora Woreda. To this end, relevant literature has been reviewed to shade light on the issue under the study. This study employed a qualitative research approach, so key informant interview, focus group discussion and document review were used as tools for data collection in order to obtain the data needed for the study. Accordingly, community elders, unemployed youth and officials from concerned government institutions were included in the study using a purposive sampling technique. The primary data was collected from the interview respondents and focus group discussion, secondary data was collected through reviewing various relevant documents. Accordingly, the findings of this study revel that youth unemployment leads to destructive conflicts because it is accompanied by poverty, lack of income generating activities, discrimination and lack of financial and technical support from concerned organs including the government. Accordingly, youth unemployment induced conflict in the study area is causing different psycho-social impacts on the community making the people suffer from social insecurity, because of conflict related anti-social activities such as armed robbery and political instability. Youth unemployment leaves its mark not only on material things but also on the mental and emotional state of the community including unemployed youths in the Janamora Woreda. In addition it is recommended that the government should create job and other livelihood opportunities for youths, arrange credit facilitate for unemployed youth to create their own business, and provide awareness and skill boosting trainings for unemployed youths in addition to the legal corrective measures it is taking to punish wrong doers.