Food for work: Is there a nutritional impact? An analysis of USAID sponsored Title II development programming in Ethiopia
Description
Using data from the Ethiopia Title II Food Security Baseline Survey conducted in 1997 this study explored the targeting performance and nutritional impact of food for work (FFW) activities conducted by seven nongovernmental agencies (called Cooperating Sponsors) funded by the Title II food aid program. A total of 52,856 individuals in 9682 households were interviewed in the fifty Ethiopian weredas where the Title II Cooperating Sponsors were implementing development programs Significant differences in malnutrition prevalence rates and poverty levels were found between areas targeted for FFW activities and areas not targeted. In the weredas targeted for FFW activities there were nearly 4% more stunted children and almost 6% more underweight children than in non-targeted areas. Within weredas targeted for food for work activities, no differences were found in malnutrition or poverty levels between households that participated and did not participate in FFW activities Using logistic regression analysis, models were created that controlled for factors explaining variance in stunting and underweight malnutrition rates of children 6--59 months old in the sample. The number of rations received by households was forced in to see if it significantly explained any additional variation in stunting or underweight prevalences. Despite submitting rations at different times, using different cutoffs of the dependent variable, and using rations in a variety of categorical forms, the number of rations received by households during the year was not a significant factor in explaining stunting or underweight status. While the non-selection of many households with malnourished children from FFW activities decreased the chance of reduced malnutrition rates, the complete insignificance of rations in the model implied that in general, food rations from FFW do not have an impact on the nutritional status of children