Role of Social Protection in Mitigating Food Insecurity: a Proposed Policy Framework for Pakistan
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.65755/jpa-20264701-127Keywords:
Social protection, food insecurity, social risk, risk management strategiesAbstract
Conceptual foundation of social protection has a rapid growth academically, but still can be observed as an evolving policy agenda in many countries. Operationally the concept of social protection encompasses elements of social assistance, social insurance, social injustice and exclusion. The fundamental purpose of social protection is to address and manage vulnerability. Food insecurity is directly connected to poverty and vulnerability, especially in low-income countries where income and food crops overlay one another; Pakistan is one of them. Food security in Pakistan is characterized by a variety of challenges. These challenges include not only insufficient economic resources and inconsequential policies; but also increasing extreme weather conditions. In changing scenario of geo-political and geo-economic circumstances, the magnitude of food security has broadened across communities and the globe; thus, showing increased social risk. The objective of this review-based policy paper is to propose a policy framework for Pakistan in mitigating food insecurity through the role of social protection. Review of literature shows close relationship between social protection and food security, and this policy paper will identify several synergies and linkages between them, through a proposed policy framework. Results deuced from available data propose risk management framework for food security in the country. Proposed policy framework revolves around a three-dimensional risk management strategy i.e. prevention, mitigation and coping strategies. By giving interventions in these strategies at informal (family) and formal (public interventions, labor market & non-profit sector) level, social protection can play a catalytic role in mitigating food insecurity in Pakistan.
Downloads
References
Ahmad, F. (2009) Food security in Pakistan. Pak. J. Agri. Sci, 46 (2), 83–89.
Applanaidu, S. D., et al. (2014). An econometric analysis of food security and related macroeconomic variables in Malaysia: a vector autoregressive approach (VAR). UMK Procedia, 1, 93–102. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.umkpro.2014.07.012 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.umkpro.2014.07.012
Babatunde, R., et al. (2007) Socio-economic characteristics and food security status of farming households in Kwara State, North-Central Nigeria. Pakistan Journal of Nutrition, 6(1), 49–58. https://doi.org/10.3923/pjn.2007.49.58 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3923/pjn.2007.49.58
Barrett, C. B. (2010). Measuring food insecurity. Science, 327(5967), 825-828. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1182768 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1182768
Barrientos, A. & Hulme, D. (2008). Social protection for the poor and the poorest: concepts, policies and politics. London: Palgrave. https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230583092 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230583092
Bashir, M. K., et al. (2012). Have policies in Pakistan been effective for improving food security? wanted: Disaggregated policy assessment. World Appl. Sci. J, 17, 1182-1191.
Bashir, M. K., et al. (2013a). Regional sensitivity of rural household food security: The case of Punjab, Pakistan. J. Anim. Plant Sci, 23, 1200-1206.
Conway, T, et al. (2000). Social protection: new directions of the donor agencies’, Paper for the DFID-ODI Inter-Agency Seminar on Social Protection, East Hampstead Park, Berkshire.
Drolet, J. L. (2016). Social development and social work perspectives on social protection. New York: Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315770796 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315770796
FAO, IFAD. (2013). WFP, The State of Food Insecurity in the World 2013-The Multiple Dimensions of Food Security. Rome: FAO.
Food and Agriculture Organization. (2000). The elimination of food insecurity in the Horn of Africa. A strategy for concerted government and UN agency action, final report. Retrieved from: http://www.fao.org/3/x8406e/X8406e02.htm#TopOfPage.
FAO. (2015). Regional overview of food insecurity Asia and the Pacific: Towards a food secure Asia and the Pacific. Food and Agriculture Organization of United Nations.
FAO. (2017). The state of food security and nutrition in the world 2017: building resilience for peace and food security. Food and Agriculture Organization of United Nations.
FAO. (2020). The state of food and agriculture: overcoming water challenges in agriculture. Food and Agriculture Organization of United Nations.
FAO. (2021). The state of food and agriculture: making agrifood systems more resilient to shocks and stresses. Food and Agriculture Organization of United Nations.
FAO. (2024). FAO Survey Highlights Vulnerabilities in Pakistan's Rural Households. Retrieved from https://www.fao.org/pakistan/news/detail-events/en/c/1697045/ .
Fayeye, T. and J. O. Daramola. (2007). Strategies for food security and health improvement in Sub Sahara Africa. World Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 3(6), 808–814.
Food Security Information Network. (2023). Global report on food crises (GRFC) 2023. Food Security Information Network.
Guha-Khasnobis, B. and G. Hazarika. (2006). Women’s status and children’s food security in Pakistan. Discussion Paper No. 2006/03. United Nations University.
Holzmann, R. (2001). Risk and vulnerability: The forward looking role of social protection in a globalizing world. Paper prepared for "The Asia and Pacific Forum on Poverty - Policy and Institutional Reforms for Poverty Reduction", Asian Development Bank, Manila.
Holzmann, R. (2001). Social risk management: A new conceptual framework for social protection, and beyond. International Tax and Public Finance, 8, 529–556. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1011247814590 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1011247814590
Holzmann, R. (2003). Reducing poverty: The Role of Social Protection and Social Risk Management. Proceedings of the first Asia and pacific forum on poverty, volume 2.
International Labor Organization. (2015). Social protection assessment-based national dialogue: A global guide. Joint United Nations response to implement social protection floors and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. Geneva: ILO.
Lakhno, M. (2023). What is a policy framework? an attempt at conceptualization. Social Studies 1/2023. 89–111.
Maxwell, S. and T. Frankenberger. (1992). Household food security: concepts, indicators, measurements. A Technical Review UNICEF and IFAD. New York and Rome.
Midgley, J. (2014). Social development: theory and practice. London: Sage. https://doi.org/10.4135/9781446294987 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4135/9781446294987
Midgley, J. (2014). Social development and social protection: New opportunities and challenges. Development Southern Africa, Vol. 30. https://doi.org/10.1080/0376835X.2012.755850 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/0376835X.2012.755850
Oriola, E. O. (2009). A Framework for food security and poverty reduction in Nigeria. European Journal of Social Sciences, 8(1), 132–139.
Rizov, M. et al. (2014). Food security and household consumption patterns in Slovakia. SSRN Electronic Journal, 63(4), 339-358. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2557372 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2557372
Roelen, K., & Devereux, S. (2014). Evaluating outside the box: Mixing methods in analysing social protection programmes. CDI Practice Paper 6. Brighton: Centre for Development Impact, IDS.
Sabates-Wheeler, R & Dervereux, S. (2007). Social protection for transformation. IDS Bulletin. 38 (3), 23-27. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1759-5436.2007.tb00368.x DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1759-5436.2007.tb00368.x
Sen, A. (1981). Poverty and famines: An essay on entitlement and deprivation. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Thomas, H. (Ed.). (2006). Trade reforms and food security: country case studies and synthesis. Food and Agriculture Organization.
Wahab, N. T. et al. (2015). An econometric analysis of food security determinants in Malaysia: a vector error correction model approach (VECM). Asian Social Science, 11(23), 1-11. https://doi.org/10.5539/ass.v11n23p1 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5539/ass.v11n23p1
World Bank. (2001). Social protection sector Strategy: from safety net to Springboard. Sector Strategy Paper. Washington DC: The World Bank.
World Bank. (2003). Social risk management: The World Bank's approach to social protection in a globalizing world. Washington D.C: World Bank Group.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Beenish Ijaz Butt (Author)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
