Purpose: Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) is an acute respiratory viral infectious disease transmitted by respiratory and fomites. The incidence of this disease is growing exponentially and affects millions of the world population. Consequently, it has become most urgent public health risk. Thus, the intention of this research is searching indigenous knowledge on COVID-19 and related infectious disease prevention and mitigation mechanisms which were not scientifically known. Therefore, this study targeted to explore local traditional knowledge of (COVID-19) or related diseases in the study area. Methods: Phenomenological design was used to explore traditional knowledge of medicine. The source populations were all elder peoples, who were known for their traditional medicine. The individuals were purposively selected from source population by using snowball sampling technique. Since study was qualitative method, the sample size was determined by the level of saturation of information as result 40 study participants were interviewed and recorded their audio using tape recorder. Then, data were analyzed using a thematic analysis with a combination of inductive and deductive methods. Results: The study reveals that coronavirus like disease was appeared past times. Such diseases were called “Alwoba” or “Marya” which is named by the local language and it has similar signs and symptoms with coronavirus disease. The key informants reported that traditional medicines were available that cured those diseases. This study infers there had been COVID-19 related diseases about 100 years back because those diseases had a similar symptoms and ways of transmission with COVID-19. They use different types of traditional medicines for those diseases which have been inherited to generations and cured them. Conclusion: This evidence explored that the existence of traditional medicine for COVID-19 related diseases. Hence, this study strongly suggested that to undertake experimental research for medical approval on the available traditional medicine.

Decentralized governance offers opportunities for achieving development through good governance and community participation at grass root (Ayenew, 2007).Thus, this study examines the contribution of decentralization for town development and; the opportunities and challenges of wereda decentralization for town development. The study was conducted in two selected Wereda capital towns in Metekel zone, Bulen and GilgelBeles. Data were collected from primary sources with the help of questionnaires, interviews and observation. The primary data were also supported by secondary documents such as federal and regional constitutions, proclamations, regulations, local development plans, official performance reports, and magazines. The data was analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively. The study revealed that wereda level decentralization actually has influenced development at grass root level in Metekel zone in general, and towns in particular. Better infrastructural provisions (education and health) were witnessed in the towns. This is due to better community participation in decision making process and availability of opportunity to express their interest. Though, more is expected, the financial capacity of towns has also registered progress. However, the situation in urban land delivery does not show an improvement. Partiality, bias, and unaccountability are major hindrances in urban land delivery. The top down hierarchy between town administrations and wereda administrators has become a major challenge for a full exploitation of town resource and administration. Besides, shortage of qualified manpower and weak community participation in development activities were also other factors that have impacted the further performance of towns. Int. J. Soc. Sci. Manage. Vol-3, issue-1: 78-80

Although the Benishangul Gumuz Regional State (BGRS) has been implementing regional development plans for decades, it remains underdeveloped. This research aims to examine the status of regional development plan implementation and its determinant factors in Benishangul Gumuz, Ethiopia. Data were collected using a multistage, stratified sampling method. Cross-sectional surveys of 365 civil servants were integrated with phenomenological interviews. Key findings indicate that only 30.0% of regional development plans were successfully implemented, with agriculture achieving high success (75.3%). Logistic regression showed that poor infrastructure was associated with 10.51 times higher odds of plan implementation failure, and inadequate finance allocation was associated with 7.92 times higher odds of failure. Lack of stakeholder participation, political instability, and weak innovative capacity were associated with 7.50, 2.46, and 6.90 times higher odds of failure, respectively. More than 85% of budgets are being allocated to recurrent and politicized leadership recruitment, and appointments have drained institutional capacity. These patterns reflect accountability gaps, recruitment imbalances, and budgetary gaps that underlie the under-implementation of regional development plans. Within the BGRS context, Policy reform should institutionalize stakeholder engagement, prioritize budgeting capital spending, and support industry innovation centers. Establishing corruption-control mechanisms (by the Regional Public Service and Human Resource Bureau, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission as an immediate priority), urgently stabilizing political instability (through the Regional Cabinet and Civil Service Commission), and creating space for the implementation of participatory plans (led by the Regional Administration and Sector Bureaus) may serve as important strategies for curbing these challenges.