Thesis Title: Analyzing food security policies in Ethiopia: The past, present and the future.

Research Topic: Despite unyielding efforts, achieving food security in general and household food security in particular, in Ethiopia has remained a distant goal. In addition, over the past decades, the development policies and strategies in place have not been able to move the country significantly forward on the rails of development and particularly toward food self-sufficiency. The latest assessment in July 2009 indicated that 6.2 million people require emergency food assistance. In 2005, the Ethiopian government launched a social protection system called Productive Safety Net Program (PSNP). This multi-year initiative is supported by various donors and aimed at bringing an eventual graduation from chronic food shortages for millions who are targeted in the programme. This research will attempt to assess the root causes of food insecurity in Ethiopia.

General Research Interests and Experience: Food and Development policy, poverty reduction, agriculture, food security and livelihoods in post conflict and complex contexts, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa, food security and vulnerability assessments, evaluation of humanitarian intervention, health and food security (malnutrition), disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM). I spent the last 19 months in Southern Sudan working as food security and livelihoods program manager and coordinator for an American international humanitarian organization headquartered in New York.