The influence of household food insecurity on the socioeconomic well-being of refugees in pagirinya refugee settlement

Abstract

Food security among the refugees is highly dependent on and susceptible to relief Aids from humanitarian agencies, funding cuts, limited access to land and farm inputs for production, unfavorable weather and soil conditions, limited access to capital/credits and high food prices in the market, and the current food prioritization approach adopted by WFP, thus reducing the quantity and quality of food that can be available, afforded, utilized and sustained by the refugees. By refugees solely relying on continued reduced humanitarian food assistance and funding cuts, coupled with limited access to factors of food production, climate change systems and unfavorable market systems on food commodities, the consequences of such reductions is significant food insecurity at individual, households and community level. With the failure of the Uganda‟s Self-reliance strategy in empowering the refugees meet their basic needs amidst critical times like global funding, reduced food and cash ratios, food prioritization approach by WFP with lack of alternatives livelihood support, reduced humanitarian assistance, climate change impacts on food production system. support refugees to the desired extent, especially when food rations are low. The study therefore aims to investigate the influence of food insecurity on the socioeconomic well-being of the refugees, identify household access to food, examine the determinants of socioeconomic well-being of the refugees and strategies in addressing the socioeconomic well-being of the refugees in Pagirinya settlement in Adjumani districts, Uganda in order to understand the consequences of and find sustainable solutions to dependence on relief aid and unstable food aid for refugees.Through a mixed-methods approach that employed both qualitative (Focus Group Discussion and Key Informant Interviews) and quantitative(questionnaires) data collection methods and observation of household food7 socioeconomic characteristics, this study provided a lens into understanding the phenomenon of food security situations and the socioeconomic well-being of refugees in Pagirinya Refugee settlement. The study provided opportunity for new thoughts in ensuring sustainable solution for refugee food insecurity and self-reliance strategy through sustainable livelihood and economic empowerment of the refugees, increasing access to factors of production like land, capital, skilling, integrated initiative, solidarity and community support initiatives and expanding employment opportunities, while review criteria for food assistance.