Productive Safety Net Program and Its Impact on the Livelihood of Rural Households in Doba District, Ethiopia

Abstract The Productive SafetyNet Program (PSNP) is a major political ingenuity by governments and donors that makes millions of chronically food-deficient rural populations safer and more predictable from ongoing food relief. So, we will move mainly to cash-based social protection. This study aims at examining major features of Productive Safety Net Program and its impact on the livelihood of rural households in Doba District, Ethiopia. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to draw 220 sample respondents from PSNP beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries. Household survey, focus group discussions and key informant interviews were employed to collect quantitative and qualitative data. Data were analyzed using Propensity Score Matching (PSM) and binary logistic regression model. Results revealed that PSNP increased total annual income by 39% and calorie intake by 8.4% of the PSNP participant households compared to non-participant households. PSNP has positive and statistically significant effect on food consumption and total annual income and on the livelihood of farming households. The logistic estimator also revealed participation in PSNP was significantly associated with variables such as cultivable land size, livestock holding, house roofing materials, distance from the extensions’ office and access to credit service.