Food Security Impacts of Ethiopia’s Food for Peace
Title II Multi-Year Assistance Program
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The Productive Safety Net Program (PSNP), 20052008, was developed through a collaboration of the
Government of Ethiopia, USAID, non-governmental
organizations and others to address recurring food
crises that lead to annual emergency appeals.
The emergency appeal process lacked predictability
and failed to address the chronic nature of food
needs in a timely and adequate manner.
Under the PSNP, households that are unable to meet
their basic food needs receive planned-in-advance
monthly food rations in exchange for their work on
building community assets.
Approximately 7 million participants annually.
Program Objectives
The program was implemented by a group of private voluntary
organizations: CARE, Catholic Relief Services, Food for the Hungry, Relief
Society of Tigray, and Save the Children
Program Objectives:
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To meet food needs of the chronically food insecure while evening out
household food consumption so households have adequate food year
round.
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To protect household assets (such as tools, cookware) by reducing or
preventing the sale of those assets in food deficient periods.
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To improve community food security through the construction of
community assets, such as water catchments, terracing to preserve soil
and market roads.
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The long term goal is the graduation of participating households after
they have become self reliant, e.g. able to produce and/or buy enough
foods to meet their dietary needs.
Public Works - building community assets
Soil Conservation and Reforestation
Wheat - from the American People
Vegetable Oil
USAID Partners’ Program Innovations
• Promoting health and nutrition through
mothers groups.
• The introduction of high value crops and
income generating activities to vulnerable
households, including beekeeping, apples,
peppers, and beans.
• Training and services to help households
increase production and sales by using
improved varieties of crops, including a new
variety of potato with high-yields.
An Example – Improved Potato Production
 Potato is a major staple
crops of N. Ethiopia.
 It has a very high yield
compared to the cereals
and is traditionally grown
in the area.
 Potatoes require less time
to develop than grain
crops and can still be
productive if the rainy
season is short.
An Example – Improved Potato Production
• The Ministry of Agriculture had developed improved
varieties of potatoes but they were not reaching
farmers or being disseminated from the research
stations.
• These varieties are resistant to disease and yield 2 to
3 times more than traditional varieties.
• FH coordinated with the research centers to get these
new varieties introduced to farmers.
Results
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The improved
varieties are
producing 2 to 3
times the traditional
varieties.
Average profits per
household are up to
$300 from a single
potato plot.
Improved, high
yielding potatoes are
being made available
throughout the area.
Overall Positive Results
• Dietary diversity (a measure of the different
types of foods consumed in the household)
score increased from 3.3 to 5.0 - about a 50%
increase. They now produce and buy a
greater variety of foods and have a more
nutritious diet.
• Average household asset values increased
from $342 to $413 – approximately a 20%
increase,
• Estimated months of food self-sufficiency
increased from 5.9 to 7.6 – a 29% increase.