BY MUSSA MUHAMMED
Developmental safety-net plays a great role in terms of improving the livelihood options of the poorest section of society. In Ethiopia, the program began as a response to food insecurity in communities that are in need of emergency food aid.
While the safety-net initiative has several multifaceted benefits, its inefficient and unsuccessful implementation in some areas has become a concern. But there are still encouraging results registered in other areas which can be considered as models for others.
The Ethiopian government revised its emergency food aid system in 2005 and launched the Productive Safety-net Program (PSNP), a more productive approach to providing a safety-net to the vulnerable populations in the country. Between 2010 and 2014, the government stepped up its efforts to address both relief and development, with harmonized donor supports.
Through this enhanced developmental approach, the PSNP provides a safety-net for households that are both chronically food insecure and very poor who are often affected by shockwaves.
This comprehensive project supported by World Bank funds is implemented to build and help communities which can’t cover their consumption by their income.
The safety-net program users in Southern Wollo and East Gojam zones of the Amhara regional state have managed to ensure food self-sufficiency. The program is particularly benefiting farmers and their household.
When the program in launched in 2006, it was planned to benefit 2.5 million people in 54 woredas. Currently, 1.9 million people have been benefited from the program so far, said Zelalem Lijalem, Amhara regional state’s Disaster Prevention and Food Security Special Support Coordination Commissioner.
In South Wollo Zone alone, 737,873, and 690,881 people have been benefited in the first two consecutive Growth and Transformation Plan (GTP) years, and in the second phase of the food security program respectively. In total, 103,802 households were involved in the livelihood improvement program through various income generating packages. All in all, some 316,833 people participated in the program have been graduated.
Merim Siraj is a resident of Gusmedia area in Mekedela Woreda, South Wollo Zone. She said she managed to enroll her four children in school as she managed to improve her life after becoming one of the beneficiaries of the safety-net program.
Merim and her neighbors were recruited by safety-net program and provided with 5,460 birr. Using the finance, she bought 4 sheep at first and engaged in animal husbandry. She now has 16 sheep. She added that in the future, she is planning to sell the sheep and raise cattle.
Merim said she faced difficulty in confirming that her household is food insecure in order to become a beneficiary of the developmental safety-net program. But finally she became a beneficiary and she is happy that the program has helped her to become self-sufficient and change her lives. “It is a good thing that I managed to change my life,” she said.
The canal and dams in Shebel Berenta Woreda of East Gojjam Zone have been budgeted by the Safety-net program. In Enebsea woreda, the program also funded projects that aim to expand and construct drinking water access, schools, roads, and houses for teachers. In addition, it also helped to build houses to the poor and their animals.
The other farmer Alemu Abi, is a resident Enebsea Woreda in East Gojjam Zone. He has been a beneficiary of the program since 2005 and since 2015, he has been graduated. His household has now become self-sufficient in food supply.
The beneficiaries managed to improve their lives using the loan they accessed from the program. At the started, the farmers accessed loan from the program and bought cattle. Some engage in fattening to resell them and earn better profit while others in husbandry.
Currently, the farmers are improving their livelihood options. Most of them have also moved from their grass house to a better house that they built using the profits they made.
According to Alemu, there are also some farmers who invested the money to improve their agricultural practices and farm activities. One of the major challenges in the implementation of the program is identifying the right type of work to engage in after accessing the loan.
There is a need to provide support in choosing the right and profitable activity. “In this regard, we have to be able to consult the farmers. This is an area that needs improvement,” he said.
In addition to ensuring their family’s food security, he said, “the farmers have been able to open bank accounts and save above 50,000 Birr within a year. This is after they cover their housing expenses,” he said.
All participants of the program agreed in one basic thing: The government has to take the initiative in expanding in order to reach out and improve the lives of more poor people. Through a collaborative effort with the beneficiaries, it would be possible to reduce poverty in the country.
The Ethiopian Herald February 14/2021
