| Abstract: | In 2005, the Government of Ethiopia and donors introduced the Productive Safety Net Program
to help households that face regular food shortages during difficult times. It is now a key part of
the Government’s overall food security program. It was originally planned to run the PSNP in
the pastoral areas, however it was realized that these areas have particular needs and
circumstances, which would require a different type of programme design. Hence Productive
Safety Net Programme –Pastoralist Area Pilot/PSNP-PAP was introduced in some pastoralist
districts of Somali, Oromia and Afar Regions of Ethiopia as a trial.
One of the options that will be tried out in PSNP-PAP is Partnerships with NGOs. In the case of
Dolo Ado Woreda Save the Children-USA is the non-governmental implementing partner for
PSNP- PAP.
The general objective of this study is to assess the prospects and challenges of PSNP-PAP in
Bokolomayo and Melkadida Kebeles of Dolo Ado District. Primary data were collected through,
key informant interview, focus group discussions, household cross sectional survey, and direct
observation of the program components, while secondary data were obtained from published
and unpublished materials of Save the Children-USA, and other relevant government offices.
All the 25 Kebeles of Dolo Ado district were covered by the PSNP-PAP. The study was
conducted in Melkadida and Bokolomayo Kebeles. 110 households were selected as a study
group which consists 10% of the beneficiaries of the programme in the two Kebeles.
The findings clearly show that PSNP-PAP has positive contributions to asset protection and
building specifically for human capital, physical capital, financial capital and natural capital.
Positive results were observed in enrolment of students in schools and use of health care
facilities. Improvements were also achieved after safety net on household assets, livestock
resources and food consumption pattern. Large number of households utilizes the payment to
buy additional food, household equipments and to buy additional livestock.
Although overall programme implementation was according to the guideline, few issues were
observed that are not in line with the guideline. Some of these are lack of gender sensitivity,
participation of the community and training of beneficiaries. Problem occurred during payment
were overcrowd payment places, under scooping, and difficulty to get cash payments. Other
problems observed during the study were absence of first aid service in public work places,
absence of Child care services and shortage of working materials.
Generally, the results from the study show that the PSNP-PAP has contributed for improvements
in human, financial, physical, natural wellbeing of the community living in the two Kebeles.
However unless measures are taken to solve the above mentioned problems these results might
be reversed. |
