Archives

I have been engaged in research in Ethiopia since 1995. Based on my fieldwork with the Gurage people, I have published papers on the formation of their ethnic identities and on their activities in community-based rural development projects. In my study I demonstrated that a community-based organization could play an important role in forming alternative social relationships, thus helping to realize a fairer redistribution of development resources.

Currently I am working on the issue of HIV/AIDS prevention among the Gurage. I am following the activities of community-based organizations that promote solidarity among people who are living with the virus. I will also examine the role of customary Gurage laws and practices that may promote social care for AIDS patients at the community level. Through this research I try to find out how they interpret the risks related to HIV/AIDS and secure sustainable basis for their livelihoods.