The Role of Safety Net Program in Ensuring Household Food Security in Dire Dawa Administration

Poverty had been considered as a problem of main areas of Ethiopia. However, it has become a phenomenon in the urban areas too. This thesis has studied the role of safety net program in insuring household food security in Dire Dawa Administration. Cross-sectional research design and mixed approach are employed to gather data. Semi structured interviews, focus group discussions; observation and household survey are deployed to collect data. 93 household samples are drawn randomly from three Kebeles. From this sample respondents, 88 of the data was collected and used for analysis with 5 non-responses rate. The finding of this study shows that although the cash transfer is inadequate to meet the income need of households, the program has provided a stable and additional income source for the households who are mostly engaged in jobs with low and varying earnings. Moreover, the cash transfer has become more important for those households that have a few or no income earning members. Furthermore, the safety net program has contributed in increasing the number of meals taken per day and the food access through purchasing. Regardless of the contributions of the program, 86% of the respondents are food insecure, mainly (76.9%) being moderately food insecure. The reason of remaining in food insecurity for most beneficiaries could be due to their short (one year) duration in the program. The study recommends the adjustment of the amount of cash transfer for the beneficiaries based on the current living condition as well as improving the working conditions of the public workers.