IMPACTS OF PRODUCTIVE SAFETY NET PROGRAM (PSNP) ON HOUSEHOLDS FOOD SECURITY STATUS IN CHIRO WOREDA, WEST HARARGHE ZONE, OROMIA REGIONAL STATE, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

The Ethiopian productive safety net programme (PSNP) launched in 2005, has been found to be a well-designed social safety net that has resulted in beneficial changes among the participant households. The programme has been planned to contribute to the improved household food security, nutrition and livelihoods and enhanced household and community resilience to shocks. However, its impacts have not yet studied at district level in general and in Chiro district specifically. This study was undertaken to analyze the impact of the Productive Safety Net Program on the food security of rural households in Chiro Woreda, situated in the West Hararghe Zone of the Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia. The research utilized 190 samples in a multi-stage sampling method by a combination of qualitative and quantitative approaches, gathering data through survey questions, focus group discussions, and interviews with key informants. Descriptive statistics and an econometric model, specifically propensity score matching, were employed to assess the effects of the productive safety net program on household food security. A Logit model was used to analyze the potential covariate variables that may affect household participation in the program. The findings revealed that the educational status of households had a negative impact on their participation in the productive safety net program, whereas access to loans had a positive effect on their involvement in the program. The propensity score matching process successfully paired 50 control households with 35 treated households. This matching was based on outcome variables specifically food consumption score and annual income, among households that exhibited comparable socio-economic characteristics prior to the intervention. The analysis of the average treatment effect on the treated (ATT) indicated that non-beneficiary households had a higher mean food consumption score (37.0833) than those participating in the PSNP (37.1488), although this difference was not statistically significant (p>0.05). Additionally, non-PSNP households reported a significantly greater mean annual income of 28,300 compared to 23,768.44 for PSNP households, with this difference having a significant impact on daily meal frequency (p<0.05). Overall, the findings suggest that the program did not lead to a significant change in the food security status of participant households, as evidenced by the food consumption score and total annual income. Consequently, it is recommended that development interventions focus on enhancing the benefits provided to program beneficiaries