ASSESSMENT OF PRODUCTIVE SAFTY NET PROGRAM- PASTORALIST AREA PILOT (PSNP-PAP) THE CASE OF MELKADIDA AND BOKOLOMAYO KEBELES IN DOLO ADO WOREDA, SOMALI REGION

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survey, and direct observation of the program components, while secondary data were obtained from published and unpublished materials of Save the Children-USA, and other relevant government offices.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.