Acknowledgments

First and for most I am immensely thankful to my family whose unconditional support and encouragement has been a source of inspiration to pursue my masters study. Extraordinary thanks goes to my mother for her love, wisdom and for being there always when I need her. I am extremely indebted to Drs. Marijk Huysman, my supervisor, for her excellent guidance and constant encouragement from the inception of the idea until its completion. I would like to express my earnest gratitude to Fisehatsion Wolday, Yirga G/egziabher, Girmachew Mengistu and Mimi Abraha, my best friends, for their confidence in me and never-ending assistance. I am very thankful to Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies, Erasmus University Rotterdam, and NUFFIC for this masters course. My heart felt gratitude goes to my roommates, Araya Sileshis and Anteneh Dagnachew for all the encouragements and cheering up during the whole year. Livelihoods and Coping Strategies: A study of Female-Headed Households in Mekelle, Ethiopia i