• Summary :
    • Background and rationale :

Over the past three decades, Ethiopia has designed and implemented several policies, strategies, and programs aimed at improving the country's food security situation. Numerous studies have evaluated the impacts of these program interventions (e.g., Tadesse & Zeleke, 2021; Keba & Kedir, 2020; Wordofa et al., 2020; Gebrehiwot & Holden, 2017; Woldie et al., 2016; Daniel et al., 2009) and assessed the performance of program implementation (e.g., MoFED, 2002, 2005, 2007, 2010; UNDP Ethiopia, 2018; National Planning Commission, 2016). However, there is a notable lack of evidence regarding the evaluation of the coherence, alignment, and institutional arrangements of policies, strategies, and programs related to the food system, particularly in their capacity to comprehensively address the various dimensions of food security. This gap has also been highlighted by several authors (Debela, 2014; Berhane et al., 2015). Therefore, this study aims to fill these gaps by critically evaluating the food security-related policies, strategies, and programs in Ethiopia that have been designed and implemented since 1991, offering insights into their effectiveness and areas for improvement.

  • Objectives :

To survey of all significant actors involved in the design of food security policies. Map-out their relationships, respective influence and strategic visions with respect to food security policies.

To critically evaluate food security related policies, strategies and programs that have been designed and implemented since 1991. Specifically, the project aims to:

(i)  Evaluate the overall policy landscape related to the food system

(ii)  Assess stakeholder networking and, the role and the interaction of various actors in the food system

(iii) Map institutional arrangements and fragmentation or overlap of mandates

  • Main methods :

This study will employ a qualitative research methodology, utilizing content analysis for data examination as recommended by Bowen (2009). It will scrutinize the strengths and weaknesses of the documents, focusing on their capacity to identify and incorporate interventions that could effectively address the four dimensions of food security: availability, access, utilization, and stability. Additionally, the research will involve conducting discussions with key informants and consultations with stakeholders to collect pertinent information. The findings from the review will be organized and presented thematically, in alignment with the four dimensions of food security.

The policy analysis component of the study will encompass the examination of policy design, implementation, outcomes of interventions, and the enabling environment, as outlined by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in 2009. Nonetheless, this assessment will specifically focus on evaluating the design of policies, strategies, and programs to determine their comprehensiveness in addressing the four dimensions of food security. This evaluation will be guided by an analytical framework adapted from the FAO (2009), which will assist the researchers in identifying shortcomings and formulating potential recommendations for enhancement.