Laterite in partnership with the Institute of Development Studies (IDS) has released a working paper titled The Role of Social and Humanitarian Assistance for Supporting Lives and Livelihoods During the 2021‒22 Tigray Crisis. This research offers critical insights into how conflict and climate impacted households in Ethiopia’s Tigray region and whether social assistance programs mitigate these impacts.
The roles of social protection and humanitarian aid
The study leverages a unique household panel dataset of 1,014 households collected just before and after the Tigray conflict’s escalation into the Amhara region. We also used data from the ACLED project as our primary source of measuring conflict quantitatively, and CHIRPS data for objectively measuring climate. These data sources provide a rare opportunity to analyze the compounded effects of conflict and climate variability, specifically drought, on poverty and food security. The research focuses on the roles played by Ethiopia’s national Productive Safety Net Programme (PSNP) and emergency humanitarian assistance in mitigating these impacts.
Key findings from the Tigray conflict
- Dual impact of conflict and climate shocks: Both conflict and climate-induced drought have significantly and negatively affected household food security and poverty levels. For instance, climate was significantly impactful on household wellbeing outcomes for both self-reported and calculated results in an area that had recently experienced warfare.
- Effectiveness of assistance programs: PSNP in combination with humanitarian aid has played a crucial role in supporting affected households. Humanitarian aid complemented the PSNP especially during disruptions to state-run social assistance. However, the study highlights the necessity for better coordination between these forms of assistance to address the complex challenges posed by simultaneous conflict and climate crises.
- Continuity of support: Maintaining climate-resilient interventions such as public works programs during periods of conflict can provide essential support to livelihoods and help mitigate the compounded negative impacts observed.
Next steps: integrating social protection with humanitarian response
The findings underscore the importance of integrating social protection systems with humanitarian responses, especially in regions susceptible to both conflict and climate shocks. Policymakers and practitioners are encouraged to foster coordination between government-led social assistance programs and emergency humanitarian efforts to enhance resilience and support for vulnerable populations.
Read the full report
For a comprehensive understanding of the study’s insights and recommendations, you can access the full working paper here:
