Determinants of Productive Safety Net Program Graduation The Case of Rural Households of Kurfa Chelle District, East Hararghe Zone

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the productive safety net program (PSNP) graduation practices and determinants
among the rural households of Kurfa Chelle District, East Hararghe Zone, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia.
The study employed cross-sectional survey and descriptive-qualitative designs. Through systematic random
sampling, 280 households from the graduate and non-graduate PSNP were chosen. The study also used
purposive sampling technique to choose five key informants and 21 participants in three focus group
discussions. While data collected through survey were analyzed using a binary logistic regression model, the
data collected by focus group discussion and key informant interviews were analyzed using content analysis.
The results demonstrate that the total crop yield and the targeting mechanism appeared to be positively and
statistically significant at the 0.05 alpha level after program graduation, while the total crop yield increased by 1
quintal while maintaining other factors constant. It was found that 0.81% more households graduated from the
program. Similar to this, a fully targeted sample household has a 25% higher chance of graduating from the
PSNP. However, only 54% of beneficiaries disagreed, and there is no appreciable difference between
beneficiaries who are receiving benefits now and those who are graduating. PSNP graduation was negatively
influenced by gender, education level, gross income, targeting mechanisms, livestock possession, irrigation and
credit access, and drought. The targeting system, graduation procedure, support, and transfer timeliness all have
an impact on the creation and protection of assets, so the program's performance needs to be improved.