This review focused on the livelihood diversification and food security
situations in Ethiopia. Hence, the objectives of this review were to identify the
determinants of rural household livelihood diversification and food security situations,
to compile the major causes of food security of the rural households, to
assess the food security status of rural households, and to review the effect of
livelihood diversification on improving the food security status of rural households in
country. The review was based on reviewing secondary data from journal articles,
books, published and unpublished reports of national and international organizations,
and policy briefs based on their relevance to the topic. According to the
review, the country policy framework has focused only on on-farm agricultural
development strategy and has not given adequate attention for non-farm and offfarm
livelihood diversification strategies to assure rural households food security in
the country. However, non-farm and off-farm strategies are currently the important
strategies to rise the income of the rural households for improving the rural
households’ food security. Currently, 57% of rural households were engaged in nonfarm
livelihood strategies.