Assessing the Productive Safety Net Programme (PSNP) in Ethiopia

Abstract

Social safety net programs, although once a luxury only experienced in the global north, are increasingly being adopted in the developing world as a means of reaching the poorest populations and assisting them in establishing a minimum standard of living. Safety net programs come in a variety of shapes and sizes and can be tailored to the needs of almost any country context. In general, there are four major components that must be considered when designing an effective safety net program: (1) the targeting system, (2) the benefits and their delivery, (3) monitoring and evaluation, and (4) the sustainability of the initiative. This paper looks through the lens of these safety net components in an assessment of the Productive Safety Net Programme (PSNP) in Ethiopia.