Mekelle University Institutional Repository
Not a member yet
635 research outputs found
Sort by
EVALUATE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF LOWEST BIDDER BID AWARDING SYSTEM IN PUBLIC CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS IN CASE OF TIGRAY REGIONAL STATE
No full textThe Ethiopian construction industry, particularly the public sector in Tigray regional state, faces persistent challenges stemming from a lowest-price bid award system. This approach often fails to deliver maximum value, leading to a high incidence of abnormally low tenders, inferior quality facilities, increased claims and litigation, and frequent cost and schedule overruns in public construction works contracts. To address these critical issues, this research evaluate the effectiveness of public construction projects awarded under the least-bidder system and gathered construction professionals' opinions on current traditional bidding procedures versus alternative evaluation and contract award systems. The methodology involved an extensive literature review to identify diverse practices, a questionnaire survey targeting key construction industry stakeholders in Tigray, and the collection of project data from selected Tigray regional state clients and consultants. This study also reviews Tigray regional state regulations to understand the objectives and intent of current procurement law. Anumber of alternative bid evaluation and contract award procedures, some currently in use globally and others emerging, are presented and discussed, offering potential pathways to improve procurement efficiency and value in the region. Hence, this study found that the construction organizations were evaluated based on lowest bid price awarding system but the contractors should be engaged based on bid price, responsiveness, and other factors. As the contractors didn’t satisfy with the lowest bid awarding evaluation procedure applied currently, the government should collect need assessment from the public building construction contractors so as to have varieties of project procurement awarding system in addition to the mentioned price awarding systems
URBAN WATER SCARCITY AND ITS SOCIO-ECONOMIC IMPACTS IN EASTERN TIGRAY: A CASE STUDY OF FREWEYNI TOWN, ETHIOPIA
No full textClimate change affected water availability in northern Ethiopia. The main objective of the study was to investigate the underlying causes and impacts of urban water scarcity on households in Freweyni Town, Eastern Tigray. Employing a combination of stratified random sampling (probability-based) and purposive and convenience sampling (non-probability-based), the research gathered data from 338 households through structured questionnaires and analyzed the responses using SPSS version 21. The study applied the Falkenmark Water Stress Indicator as the primary metric for evaluating water scarcity. Results revealed a critical shortfall in water availability, with individuals consuming an average of only 10.52 liters per day—equivalent to 3.83 cubic meters per year—far below the benchmark of 1700 cubic meters per year that signifies water accessibility. This places the town in a state of absolute water scarcity. The root causes identified include rapid population growth, urbanization, financial constraints, and a lack of institutional, technological, and managerial capacity. The consequences of this scarcity are both health-related and economic: households face heightened exposure to waterborn diseases due to reliance on unsafe sources such as unprotected rivers, and they incur additional financial burdens from purchasing water from vendors and repairing outdated infrastructure. Furthermore, the study highlights unequal and inadequate water service delivery across the town. In response to these challenges, the research recommends the development of additional boreholes, strengthening the capacity of water service institutions, adopting sustainable financing mechanisms, and enhancing the involvement of non-governmental organizations and private sector actors in the local water supply system
Climate Change-Induced Hydroclimatic Extremes in the Drylands of Northern Ethiopia: Implications for Water Resources Management
No full textClimate change is increasingly impacting society and the environment around the world, with water-scarce regions such as dry lands being particularly vulnerable due to their limited resource availability. In East Africa, recent intensification of climate variability and change has worsened existing environmental challenges, including extreme rainfall events, floods, and frequent droughts. Ethiopia, is among the most susceptible areas to these changes, having endured some of the most severe droughts in recent decades. This shifting climate poses a significant threat to water resources, especially in northern Ethiopia, where persistent land degradation and frequent droughts—largely driven by fluctuating rainfall patterns have intensified the vulnerability of the region. The climate and hydrological systems of northern Ethiopia, especially in the Tigray region, are highly complex, influenced by diverse topography, and pronounced seasonal and spatial variability in rainfall, varied soil types, and dynamic land use changes. These factors, combined with variability in physiography, lithology, vegetation cover, and land management, lead to substantial differences in hydrological processes across basin or sub-basins such as in the Geba sub-basin, which is part of the headwaters of the Tekeze River. The sub-basin, exhibits pronounced inter annual rainfall variability, sparse vegetation, steep slopes, flood and recurring drought events. Addressing these issues demands a comprehensive understanding of climate variability and change, its impacts across multiple spatial and temporal scales to support resilient water resource development and management in this vulnerable region. Despite the recent development in climate and hydrology, a comprehensive understanding of hydro climatic variability—particularly its link to global sea surface temperature anomalies— remains limited. Moreover, the dynamics of extreme events such as intense rainfall, floods, and droughts under future climate conditions and uncertainties propagated to hydrological simulations are quite unexplored. Given this gap, this study aims to explore and better understand hydro climatic variability and extreme events under climate change within the Geba Sub-basin, situated in the northern highlands of Ethiopia. To achieve this, an integrated approach was employed—combining statistical analysis of daily long-term hydro climatic data (1981-2017), remote sensing, field surveys, laboratory investigations, and climate–hydrological modeling at the sub-basin scale
Effect of War on Livestock Production and Feed Resources Availability of Smallholder Farmers in Asgede and Tahtay koraro Woredas, Northwestern Tigray, Ethiopia
No full textLivestock and crop production play vital roles at household and national levels in Ethiopia/Tigray. However, these sectors were damaged due to the war that happened in Tigray from 2020-2022. This study aimed to assess the effect of war on livestock production and feed resource availability of smallholder farmers in Asgede and Tahtay koraro woredas in northwestern Tigray, Ethiopia. To collect data a cross-sectional research type was used with a multi-stage sampling procedure involving 152 smallholder households from April 2024 to June 2024. Primary and secondary data sources were gathered through household interviews, focus group discussions and key informant interviews using semi-structured questionnaires. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 28 software. The study revealed the livestock population and crop yield were damaged significantly (p<0.001). Before the war, the average livestock holding per household was 18.46 Tropical Livestock Units (TLU) whereas, after the war it dropped to 3.23 TLU. Crop yield at household level also reduced from 22.93 quintals per year to 5.74 quintals after the war. Additionally, the total annual feed supply per household derived from crop residues and grazing lands dropped from 15,591 to 14,727 tonnes of dry matter. The war adversely affected livestock population, accessibility to feed and water sources, market access and extension services, made livestock more susceptible to diseases and led to a decline in overall productivity. It also caused inflation in livestock prices with cattle prices rising by 76.9%, sheep and goats by 78%, donkeys by 68%, camels by 50% and poultry by 50% as compared to prices before the war. This inflation led to decreased consumption of livestock products and reduced household incomes. Moreover, challenges such as insecurity, shortage of income, disease infestations and lack of extension services hindered the restoration of farming activities in the study areas. In conclusion, livestock production and feed resources declined after the war, resulting in starvation and various disease outbreaks among livestock and households. Therefore, immediate support from the government, development agencies, NGOs and other relevant authorities is essential for effective restocking and recovery of the livestock sectorMekelle Universit
The Effect of Logistics Service Quality on Customer Satisfaction: The Case of Mekelle Dry Port
No full textLogistics service quality is a critical area of research in supply chain management, particularly regarding its impact on customer satisfaction. Dry ports, such as Mekelle Dry Port in Ethiopia, play a vital role in enhancing logistics efficiency by facilitating the movement of goods between inland areas and seaports. This study investigates the effect of logistics service quality on customer satisfaction at Mekelle Dry Port .A mixed-methods approach (quantitative dominant) was employed, combining descriptive and explanatory research designs. Primary data were collected through structured questionnaires from 83 customers. Quantitative analysis was conducted using SPSS version 23, applying descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation. The regression model revealed that logistics service quality explains 78.4% of the variation in customer satisfaction (Adjusted R² = 0.784), supported by ANOVA results (F = 24.018, p < 0.001). Key logistics service quality dimensions—responsiveness, flexibility, order accuracy, timeliness, and assurance—were found to significantly influence customer satisfaction. The study recommends that Mekelle Dry Port prioritize improving responsiveness, which had the strongest impact. This can be achieved by establishing a dedicated customer service team trained in effective communication and timely complaint resolution. Implementing a real-time customer inquiry tracking system can also help ensure prompt and efficient handling of customer requests
THE EFFECT OF SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING ON CONSUMERS BRAND AWARENESS AT ADO DETERGENT MEKELLE
No full textThe rapid expansion of internet access and social media usage in Ethiopia has reshaped how consumers interact with brands, creating new opportunities for firms operating in fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) categories. For emerging local brands such as Ado Detergent in Mekelle, social media offers a cost-effective platform for building brand awareness; however, empirical evidence on its actual effectiveness remains limited. This study examines the effect of social media marketing on consumer brand awareness by focusing on three key components: brand exposure, electronic word-of-mouth (e-WOM), and customer engagement. An explanatory, quantitative research design was employed, and data were collected from 336 active social media users in Mekelle through a structured online questionnaire.
Descriptive statistics showed that the majority of respondents actively use Facebook and Telegram, indicating strong potential reach for the brand. Correlation analysis revealed positive and significant relationships between all three social media marketing components and brand awareness. Regression results further indicated that brand exposure, e-WOM, and customer engagement together explain 61.1% of the variation in brand awareness, with brand exposure being the strongest predictor.
Based on these findings, the study recommends that Ado Detergent increase consistent and targeted social media presence within its practical capacity, encourage basic forms of e-WOM such as customer testimonials and feedback, and strengthen simple engagement practices like timely responses and relatable content creation. These focused, low-cost actions can meaningfully enhance the brand’s recall and recognition among social media users in Mekelle
Magnitude and Associated Factors of Oligohydramnios Among Third Trimester Pregnant Women Attending at Mekelle Public Hospitals, Tigray, Ethiopia: Institution-Based Cross Sectional Study
No full textBackground: Oligohydramnios is a condition where amniotic fluid volume is lower than expected for gestational age. It is the most common amniotic fluid disorder and the leading cause of severe fetal and maternal adverse outcomes. Despite the severity of the problem, studies regarding the magnitude and associated factors of oligohydramnios in third-trimester pregnancy were limited in Ethiopia, mainly in the study area.
Objective: To assess magnitude and associated factors of oligohydramnios among women in the third trimester of pregnancy at Mekelle public hospitals, Tigray, Ethiopia, 2024/2025. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from December/1/2024 to May/30/2025 in Mekelle city. We included pregnant women using consecutive sampling technique using predefined inclusion criteria. Interview using structured questionnaire was employed to collect socioeconomic and demographic, lifestyle, medical and obstetric related data. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 27. Descriptive statistics were utilized to summarize data. Binary logistic regression analysis was employed to identify factors associated with oligohydramnios in third-trimester of pregnancy. Variables with P<0.05 in multi-variable analysis were declared statistically significant & interpreted using AOR with 95% CI. Hosmer-Lemeshow test was used to assess model fitness & it was insignificant (P=0.956), indicating a good-fitted model for the data. The maximum VIF was 1.12, telling that no Multicolinearity issue among covariates. Results: The mean age of the study participant, 356 with a 100% response rate, was a 28.2±5.06 years. The magnitude of oligohydramnios in third trimester of pregnancy was 7.9% (95% CI: 5.3-11.2%). Women with a history of diabetes mellitus [AOR=4.12 (95% CI: 1.26-13.53)], hypertension [AOR=6.12 (95% CI: 1.82-20.59)], anemia [AOR=4.63 (95% CI: 1.61-13.37)], hyperemesis gravid arum [AOR=4.76 (95% CI: 1.82-12.48)], post-term pregnancy [AOR=7.22 (95% CI: 1.41-36.98)] and fetal factors, including congenital anomalies [AOR=7.60 (95% CI: 1.81-31.94)] and intrauterine growth restriction [AOR=5.87 (95% CI: 1.42-24.32)], were significantly associated with an increased odds of oligohydramnios.
Conclusion & Recommendations: 7.9% of pregnant women had sustained oligohydramnios. Maternal diabetes, hypertension, anemia, hyperemesis gravid arum, post-term pregnancy, fetal congenital anomalies and intrauterine growth restriction were identified as significant risk factors for oligohydramnios. We recommend increased surveillance for oligohydramnios focusing on the identified risks, maternal life style modifications & regular antenatal checkups in pregnancy
ዳህሳስ ስነ ቃላት መፅሓፍ ተምሃራይ ተግርኛ ታሽዓይ ክፍሊ ብመንፅር ዕለማ ትምህርቲ ቋንቋ
No full textማራ መፅናዕቲ
ናይዚ መፅናዕቲ ትኹረት ኣብ ታሽዓይ ክፍሊ መፅሓፍ ተምሃራይ ዘለው ኣካል ስነ ፅሑፍ ዝኾኑ ስነ ቃላት ብመንፅር ብመንፅር ዕላማ ትምህርቲ ቋንቋእንታይ ከም ዝመስል ምድህሳስ እዩ።።ናይዚ መፅናዕቲ መበገሲ ዝኾነ ሓፈሻዊ ዛዕባ ድማ ስነ ቃላት ኣብ ከይዲ ምምሃር ምስትምሃር ዘለዎም ሰሓብነት ቋንቋ ፣ምስ ባህልን ልምድን
ተምሃሮ ዘለዎ ምትእስሳር ዝፍትሽ እዩ።ከምዚ እንትኸውን ኣብዚ መፅናዕቲ ዝትንተሉ
ስነ ቃለት ብፈተሻ ሰነድ ዝተኣከቡ ብዓይነታዊ ሜላ ኣተናትና ዝተተንቲኑ እዮም።
ዕልባት እዚ ፅሑፍ እንትርአ ድማ ከም ኣድላይነት ስነ ቃል ኣብ ከይዲ ምምሃር
ምስትምሃር ክንዲ ዘድለ ከም ዘይኮነን በመንፅር ዝተሰከሞ ትሕዝቶ እውን ኣብ
ምኽዕባት ክእለት ቋንንቋ፣ ስብእናን ባህልኻ ምፍላጥን ትኹረቱ ዝተሓተ እዩ። እዚ
ብምዃኑ ድማ መፅነዓይ ኣብ ምድላው መፅሓፍ ተምሃራይ ዝሳተፉ ኣካላት መዳርግቲ
ኣካለት ከም ዘድልን መምህራን ድማ ኣብ ከይዲ ምምሃር ምስትምሃር ተወሳኺ ፃዕሪ
ከም ዘድልዮም ኣንፈት ዘቐመጠ እዩ
Enhanced Solar Irradiation Forecasting Using LSTM
No full textAccurate forecasting of solar irradiation is critical for improving grid stability, optimizing energy storage, and maximizing photovoltaic (PV) system efficiency. Traditional forecasting methods, including statistical and numerical weather prediction models, often struggle with the nonlinear and complex nature of solar irradiation data. This research work explores the application of deep learning techniques, specifically Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) neural networks, to enhance day-ahead solar irradiation forecasting for solar energy applications. In this research, an LSTM-based model was developed and trained using historical irradiation data, covering the period from January 1984 to March 2025 in Mekelle. The methodology involved data collection, cleaning, and preprocessing, followed by model training and evaluation. Key preprocessing steps included removing anomalies and normalizing the data set using Min-Max scaling. The LSTM model demonstrated superior performance compared to traditional machine learning models, with a Mean Bias Error (MBE) of 0 kWh/m²/day, Mean Absolute Error (MAE) of 0.46 kWh/m²/day, and Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE) of 0.65 kWh/m²/day. The model demonstrated a 71% lower RMSE in winter compared to summer and achieved 56% higher accuracy on sunny days than on cloudy days. These improvements can be attributed to the more stable weather conditions of the winter season and the consistency of solar irradiation on sunny days in Mekelle. The model was evaluated using two different dataset sizes, 5556 and 15040 data points. With the larger dataset, performance improved by 15%, highlighting the critical role of data availability in enhancing model accuracy and reliability. The results suggest the potential of LSTM networks in providing reliable day-ahead solar irradiation forecasts, contributing to the broader adoption of renewable energy. This study recommends integrating the solar irradiation forecasting model with energy forecasting systems to optimize grid performance and storage utilization. Future research should explore extended datasets, additional meteorological parameters, and ensemble methods to enhance the adaptability and accuracy of LSTM-based forecasting model
FACTORS INFLUENCING MOBILE BANKING PRACTICE፡ IN CASE OF COMMERCIAL BANK OF ETHIOPIA, CASTLE BRANCH, MEKELLE
No full textThis study investigates the factors influencing mobile banking practice in the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia, Castle Branch, Mekelle City. Guided by the research objectives and questions. The study aims to examine how complexity, customer awareness, trust, network interruption, perceived risk, and perceived usefulness influence the practice of mobile banking in CBE, Castel Branch, Mekelle City. the study employed a quantitative research approach and utilized both descriptive and explanatory research designs. The motivation for the study arose from the slow adoption of mobile banking in Ethiopia despite the strategic direction of bank management toward digital banking transformation. From a total population of 3,500 customers, 359 respondents were selected using the Finite Population Correction formula. Convenience and purposive sampling techniques were applied. Primary data were collected from mobile banking customers through questionnaires and supported by insights from bank staff members obtained via structured interviews. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and linear regression. The findings reveal that Perceived Usefulness, Complexity, Awareness, Trust, Perceived Risk, and Network Interruption all have a positive and significant relationship with mobile banking practice. The regression analysis yielded an R-value of 0.899, indicating a strong positive relationship between the independent variables and mobile banking practice. The study concludes that mobile banking practice is significantly shaped by these key factors, suggesting that users’ expectations align with their perceptions of usefulness, complexity, awareness, trust, perceived risk, and network stability. The major findings are perceived usefulness, complexity, awareness, trust, perceived risk, and network interruption. Perceived usefulness and complexity positively encourage adoption, while perceived risk and low trust discourage users due to concerns about security and service reliability. Awareness has a minor positive effect, but not enough to significantly change user behavior. Overall, the regression and ANOVA results show that these factors collectively and significantly predict mobile banking practice. Although limited to a specific area and age group, the findings emphasize the need for banks to strengthen security, build trust, improve usability, and enhance network performance to boost mobile banking adoption. The findings provide valuable insights for banks, service developers, and software engineers aiming to enhance customers’ intention to adopt and continue using mobile banking services. Accordingly, the study recommends that commercial banks strengthen these factors by adopting appropriate technologies, establishing supportive legal structures, empowering human resources, and improving network capability and accessibility