Productive Safety Net Program and the Rural Poor in Sire Woreda, Oromia Region of Ethiopia

Abstract

The Productive Safety Net Program (PSNP) is one of the social protection
initiatives designed to counter food insecurity in Sub-Saharan African
countries, such as Ethiopia. The aim of this study is to examine the perceived
impacts, challenges and dysfunctions of PSNP in Sire Woreda, Arsi Zone,
Ethiopia, based on sociological analysis. Qualitative research approach was
employed to collect, analyse and interpret data from purposively selected
study participants residing in the study area from October 2015 to June 2016.
Interview, focus group discussions and observations were employed as
methods for data collection. The study found that improvements in the
schooling and health status of the target population were seen by PSNP
services. The distance travelled to schools, human health and veterinary
institutions, local markets, feeder roads, and water points have been shortened
through PSNP public work program. The study also revealed that PSNP has
brought improvement in households’ food consumption status and in
protecting assets of the beneficiaries from depletion. Moreover, PSNP
beneficiary households reported that they were able to maintaining their
assets, and creating additional assets. However, there are problems such as
dependence behaviours, erosion of the capabilities of entrepreneurs in the
community and manipulation of the labour market that impede the initiative
from achieving its objectives in full. Other challenges which negatively affect
the program include poor institutional linkages and lack of active community
participation in the decision making process. The study also suggested that
greater standardization of the targeting process; the development of more
efficient appeal systems; connecting recipients to other agricultural projects;
ensuring monitoring and evaluation that feeds into programmatic
transformation; and the search for other methods of financing beyond the
existing external donor ring are crucial.