The Effects of Urban Productive Safety Net Program on Household Food Security Status in Gulele Sub-city, Addis Ababa

Abstract

The central purpose of this study was to examine the effects of the productive safety net program (PSNP) on the food security status of urban households in Gulele sub-city, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Data were gathered from 271 households, key informants, and focus group discussants. Analytical techniques used include descriptive statistics, the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS), and the Ordinary logit model. The HFIAS results showed that about 2% of study households were food secure, 26% were mildly food insecure, 49% were moderately food insecure and 23% were severely food insecure. The ordered logit model result also indicates that the age of household head, family size, saving, and consumption of durable goods has a negative effect on food security. The study concludes that even though the urban productive safety net program (UPSNP) has positive effects on the food security status of beneficiaries, it has no significant effects on asset accumulation and livelihoods. Hence, government needs to give more emphasis on creating job opportunities, family planning, and adjusting the amount of cash transfer for participants based on their current living conditions to ensure food security. These activities would help poor households to generate more income and purchase more food for their families.