Analyzing the effectiveness of the Productive Safety Net Program (PSNP) of Ethiopia: evidence from the literature

In PSNP literature, some authors argue that the program had little effect on food security while others recognized the programs beneficial contribution. However, it was unclear who was benefiting from the scheme. Thus, this study is aimed to analyzes the contradictory findings on the PSNP produced by several studies. The study used a critical literature review methodology with meta-analysis, examining 37 chosen papers (22 and 15 respectively), to address the reason for differences across the studies and pinpoint knowledge gaps. Due to methodological variations, research bias, temporal and contextual factors, and the variation of the procedure in data collection and analysis, the study finds great deal of variation in PSNP results. The meta-analysis has been conducted by using the DerSimonian and Laird (DL) random effect model. The result shows that the PSNP has significant protective impact reducing the probability of negative outcomes by almost 63%. The significant heterogeneity (I² = 99.9%) highlights how the program’s effectiveness is impacted by regional variations, demographic characteristics, and implementation strategy. To produce precise and useful insights, the study emphasizes the significance of transparent and accurate research methodologies. Additionally, it highlights the necessity of context specific approaches to maximize PSNP’s influence especially in various socio-economic circumstances. The results indicate that the PSNP has broad benefits, local implementation and ongoing assessment are necessary for its effectiveness. For future studies, this paper suggests using primary data with longitudinal studies and time series analysis combined to gain deeper understanding on programs changing dynamics. The research with larger geographical and demographic ranges is also required to improve the validity and generalizability of the results.