Does women’s empowerment mediate household food insecurity in the event of shocks? Evidence from Ethiopia

Abstract

We examine the role of women’s empowerment in mitigating the impact of shocks on household food insecurity in rural Oromia, Ethiopia. Using panel data from 2016 and 2019, we categorize households based on women’s and men’s empowerment, as measured by the project-level Women’s Empowerment in Agriculture Index (pro-WEAI), and analyze the effects of agricultural, price, and health shocks. Our findings show that shocks, particularly price-related ones, increase food insecurity, but households where the woman is empowered are less likely to experience worsening food insecurity. Women’s autonomy in income, social networks, and diverse coping strategies appear as key factors in building resilience. This study contributes to the literature by highlighting that gendered empowerment dynamics are crucial in understanding households’ resilience to food insecurity. Our results highlight the protective role of women’s empowerment in the event of shocks and underscores the need for gender-sensitive approaches in food security policy.