Impacts of Railway Development Induced Land Displacement on Households’ Livelihoods in South Wello Zone of Amhara Region, Ethiopia

Abstract

This study analyzed the impacts of land displacement due to railway development on households' livelihoods in the South Wello Zone of the Amhara Region, Ethiopia. Using both primary and secondary data, the research relied on the responses of 213 randomly selected households. It utilized ordered logistic regression analysis and propensity score matching. The findings demonstrated that advancing from elementary to tertiary education increases the likelihood of developing human capital in terms of skills and education by 3.80 (p < 0.001). Similarly, progressing from elementary to certificate training raises this likelihood by 1.90 (p < 0.001). Employment status also plays a pivotal role, with own-farm employment showing higher livelihood sustainability compared to other types of employment such as private business or organizational work. The findings emphasized the critical roles of education, employment opportunities, and resource accessibility in post-displacement livelihood recovery. The study calls for strategic interventions to address the challenges of land displacement and promote sustainable livelihoods throughout development intervention.