The Impact of food assistance programmes on food security on women headed households in Mabvuku surburb

Author

Rasayi, Kundai

Title

The Impact of food assistance programmes on food security on women headed households in Mabvuku surburb

Abstract

The project focuses on the impact of Food Assistant Programmes on food security of women headed households, in Mabvuku suburb. The intention of the study was to investigate the effectiveness of the food assistant programmes vis-à-vis food security of women headed households in Mabvuku. The study was conducted in Mabvuku, Harare, covering the period of 2020-2024. The researcher selected Mabvuku, because she resides in the area and she witnessed the plight of women headed households. This research adopted a qualitative research technique, were by questionnaires and interviews were used in collecting data. In the study, the sample comprised of 43 participants. There were 40 women who were leaders of female-headed households and 3 key informants. Thematic analysis was used in analysing the data. The study was conducted over a one-year period. The findings indicate that several food assistance programmes have been implemented in Mabvuku suburb, specifically targeting women-headed households such as direct food distribution, cash transfers, and food vouchers. The study outlined that direct food distribution initiatives provided essential staples such as maize meal, beans, and cooking oil. The study concluded that food assistance programmes significantly impact food security for women-headed households in Mabvuku suburb. The study concluded that these initiatives have substantially improved their access to nutritious food, reducing instances of hunger and malnutrition within their families. The direct provision of food staples through distribution programmes ensured that households had a reliable source of essential food items. The study recommended that the Ministry of Women Affairs should improve transparency in distribution, so as to establish clear and transparent criteria for aid distribution. The study further recommends that NGOs should also enhance programme awareness and accessibility. The aim is to increase awareness of available programmes through community outreach effort.

Date

March 2025

Publisher

BUSE

Keywords

Women Headed Households

Food Assistance Programmes

Food Security

NGOs

Supervisor

N/A