Field and river

20th International Conference of Ethiopian Studies (ICES20)
Mekelle University, Ethiopia

"Regional and Global Ethiopia - Interconnections and Identities"
1-5 October, 2018

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DAILY LABOURERS AND THEIR SOCIAL SECURITY NETWORK IN KOMBOLCHA, SOUTH WÄLO [Abstract ID: 1202-04]

Harald ASPEN, NTNU Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Dept. of Social Anthropology
AREGASH Abebayehu, Wollo University, Ethiopia
NEGASH Abebe, Wollo University, Ethiopia

The Kombolcha industrial park in South Wälo was inaugurated in July 2017 as a result of a 90 million US dollars investment. It is expected to create jobs for 20,000 people.
During the first half of 2018 I shall commense fieldwork in Kombolcha, focusing on resilience/local mutual help institutions in the rural-urban nexus in relation to industrialization and urbanization connected with the newly established Industrial park. Based on my earlier research in the Kombolcha area the role of traditional institutions to keep up contact between first generation “urbanites” in Kombolcha with their families in the countryside, I believe that local, traditional institutions are vital for the new immigrants to town. My presentation at ICES20 will be a first presentation of findings and provide a sketch of a future publication on the issue.