Ethiopia’s Rural Safety Net Enables the Social Inclusion of People with Disabilities

Zeleke Gunamo sat beside his daughter outside their small home in Gidiwo kebele, Aleta Wondo woreda, Sidama region. Flowers bloom in their garden, and large enset trees surround their grassy compound. However, the lush foliage, characteristic of the area, is deceiving.

Sidama region is one of Ethiopia’s most densely populated areas, with most farmers having landholding sizes of less than half a hectare. Despite the evergreen vegetation, food insecurity is prevalent due to large household sizes–the land simply cannot produce enough to sustain the family members living on it.

“I used to have three occupations,” said Zeleke, speaking quietly. “The first one was farming; I used to till land. The second one is threshing coffee. The third is that I am a carpenter. I built houses.”

This changed eight years ago when Zeleke began to fall ill.

“I joined the PSNP because I was sick and began to lose my sight; as I lost my sight, I was taken to the hospital; they said I had blood pressure.”

The eventual loss of his eyesight due to glaucoma meant Zeleke could no longer work.

Fortunately for Zeleke, he lived in a woreda that implements the Productive Safety Net Program (PSNP). The PSNP is a food and cash transfer program the government implements across 489 woredas to address food insecurity. For extremely poor households with able-bodied labor, the program provides food or cash transfers for six months a year in exchange for public works.

For extremely poor households without able-bodied labor, PSNP serves a category of beneficiaries called Permanent Direct Support (PDS). PDS beneficiaries are comprised
of the elderly, disabled, and those living with chronic illnesses, such as HIV/AIDS. Zeleke joined the PSNP as a PDS beneficiary, which means that due to his disability, he is entitled to receive cash transfers monthly throughout the year without performing public works.

Safety nets can play a critical role in enhancing the well-being of people with disabilities. They can support increased access to employment and decent work opportunities if an integrated set of measures is in place.

However, as disability is often stigmatized, few work opportunities exist for those disabled, making their households extremely vulnerable to food insecurity.

While the monthly amount he receives is not large, Zeleke clearly appreciates what the transfers have enabled him to do.

“The safety net has benefited me— I have three children. Despite being blind and dependent on others, I am feeding my children and can send them to school.”

Zeleke adds, “I also use the money I receive to pay
my membership for iddir; I am a member of two associations.” In the rural context, iddirs function as a form of social insurance to its members and allow Zeleke’s household to participate in important community events like weddings and funerals.

In the context of limited work and income generation opportunities, the provision of cash transfers to Zeleke’s household has been transformative.

He says: “There is no question I am alive today because of the safety net.”