Productive Safety Net Program - World Food Programme

Results achieved by the end of the project (December 2012) include: (i) predictable food or cash transfers provided – either through people’s participation in public works programs or via direct transfers to those unable to work – which have helped reduce the food gap (the gap between people’s need for food and their ability to access it) by an average of 28% for about 3.9 million individuals each year as well as reduce distress sale of assets; (ii) 3 943 schools and 453 health clinics built rehabilitated or repaired which has improved access to health clinics primary schools and other education services for 85% of the households participating in the Productive Safety Net Program; (iii) public works programs in place which created 203 189 ponds for irrigation and livestock water supply built 522 026 km of anti-erosion embankments to rehabilitate 463 015 hectares of degraded land by closing areas to livestock grazing planted 1.808 billion trees and constructed or maintained 106 031km of community roads; (iv) supporting food procurement and its related delivery and distribution. These activities have had a positive cumulative impact. A 2010 impact assessment determined that depending on the region irrigation works have helped between four and twelve percent of households expand their livestock holdings and beneficiary incomes have increased by four to twenty-five percent. These results have helped people living in chronically food-insecure areas of rural Ethiopia access sufficient safe and nutritious food.