Household Resilience to Food Insecurity: the case of Chencha Zuriya District, Southern Ethiopia

Fragmented landholding, recurring drought, food price inflation, and continued conflicts in the northern parts of Ethiopia have increased incidences of food insecurity shocks in the highland areas of the country. This study investigated food insecurity shocks and major sources of household resilience in southern Ethiopia. Using a resilience strategy, the study employed a cross-sectional design that included a household survey of 303 rural households in the wake of COVID-19 and related shocks, corroborated with focus group discussions and key informant interviews. Descriptive statistics and multivariate analytical methods, such as principal component analysis, were used to analyze the data. The findings reveal that food insecurity in the area is caused by factors like inflation, family illness, low farm production, and drought. A resilience analysis identifies six dimensions that significantly contribute to household resilience, with access to Social Safety Net, basic services, and non-agricultural assets being crucial. All but the stability dimension positively and significantly contributed to resilience. The multivariate analysis showed that 59.7% of households were non-resilient, while 40.3% were resilient at various levels. Based on factor loading and beta coefficient, access to Social Safety Net, basic services, and non-agricultural assets are crucial for promoting household resilience against food insecurity. The study suggests strengthening and improving the targeting system and quality of social safety services, increasing access to basic public services, and supporting agricultural intensification to enhance household resilience to food insecurity. Furthermore, policymakers should also prioritize the strengthening of key resilience dimensions and address frequently encountered shocks and stresses to enhance household resilience in the area.