Shocks and social protection in the Horn of Africa : analysis from the Productive Safety Net Programme in Ethiopia

Using panel data from the Ethiopian Productive Safety Net Program, this paper explores the
degree to which this social protection programme has been successful in protecting its
beneficiaries against the various shocks that have affected the Horn of Africa in the recent
past. The analysis suggests that although the PSNP has managed to improve households’
food security and wellbeing, the positive effects of the programme are not robust enough to
shield recipients completely against the impacts of severe shocks.
Key-words: coping strategies; resilience; vulnerability; poverty; Africa.