Savings Programmes and Food Security of Women and Their Children in Ethiopia

Abstract

Women in low and middle-income countries are particularly vulnerable to food insecurity. The non-profit humanitarian organisation CARE has implemented village savings and loan associations (VSLAs), funded by the Canadian International Development Agency, in many Sub-Saharan African countries to enhance women’s access to savings and credit and empower them to tackle the challenges of food insecurity. Despite the importance of this innovative programme, its effects on food security outcomes have not been thoroughly examined. This study examined whether women’s participation in VSLAs was associated with food security of women and their children. Using data collected by CARE involving 1,077 women and their children in Ethiopia, our findings showed that VSLA participation was significantly associated with a higher dietary diversity score among women. The findings also suggest that under certain conditions, VSLAs targeting women may positively influence food security of women and their children.