Social Protection Response to Climate Change Induced Food Poverty, Food and Nutrition Insecurity Among Food-Insecure Smallholder Farmer Households in Zambia

Research has widely documented the impact of long-term unconditional cash and in-kind transfers on multidimensional poverty and vulnerability to shocks among low capacity households. However, it is not well known how emergency cash and food transfers can impact on transitory food insecurity, food poverty and nutrition insecurity among low income farmer households in Zambia. Thus, this study employed concurrent mixed methods approach to examine how emergency cash and food transfers can impact on transitory food insecurity, food poverty and nutrition insecurity among food-insecure smallholder farmer households in Zambia. Preliminary findings suggest that emergency cash transfers can enhance food access and nutrition by contributing to household income that can supplement expenditure on food when people become vulnerable to shocks (such as crop failure or losses of livestock due to climate change induced drought). To that effect, adequate, regular and predictable targeted cash transfers can have significant effects on nutritional status, quantity and quality of food. Preliminary findings also suggest that food transfers (such as food aid) can ensure availability of food, enhance people’s access to food, ensure regular consumption of quality food and large quantities of food.

Targeted social cash and food transfers can be effective instruments for reducing transitory food poverty and enhancing food and nutrition security. Ultimately, cash and food transfers can enhance nutrition and food availability and access. However, further research is needed to establish how emergency cash and food transfers can reduce food poverty and contribute to food and nutrition security.