The cost of gaps in existing food price-stabilizing market policies in urban areas for poor women and their families: the case of Addis Ababa

Abstract

Food inflation has been a challenge in Ethiopia since prices of staple foods started rising in 2005, particularly threatening the food security of relatively poor and marginalized groups, such as women. However, there is limited research on the actual impact of food price surges and government-responsive programs on poor women. This study investigates the effect of food inflation and its coping mechanisms vis-à-vis government response programs from the perspective of poor women through consciously adopting feminist economics as a theoretical and interpretive framework. This was accomplished by taking into consideration women’s gender-based privations and other facets of their identities and lived realities. It employed a qualitative methodology that is guided by feminist epistemological principles in its design including data collection and analysis techniques. It investigated and drew lessons from how poor women are impacted by and cope with food inflation in relation to the Public Distribution System (PDS) of basic goods in Addis Ababa, a government intervention program, using the case study approach. In-depth interviews (IDIs) and two rounds of focus group discussions, (FGDs) utilizing Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) tools were carried out for women beneficiaries of the program, selected through the snowball sample technique, respectively. IDIs were also conducted for government and private implementing institutions of the intervention program.