INSTRUMENTS AND FOOD SECURITY OUTCOMES OF THE SDC FOOD SECURITY PROJECT IN FIKA LGA, YOBE STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Food insecurity remains a critical challenge in conflict-affected regions of Northeast Nigeria, where armed insurgency has disrupted agricultural systems, displaced populations, and undermined livelihoods. Despite substantial humanitarian investments, empirical evidence on the effectiveness of specific food security instruments in fragile contexts remains limited. This study assessed the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) Food Security Project in Fika Local Government Area (LGA), Yobe State, Nigeria, with a specific focus on: (i) classifying the food security instruments used by SDC and their distribution among beneficiaries; and (ii) evaluating the food security status of beneficiary households using standardized metrics. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 288 beneficiary households selected through multistage sampling across three conflict-affected communities (Gashaka, Kurmi, and Ngalda). Primary data were collected using semi-structured questionnaires administered through Open Data Kit (ODK). Food security status was assessed using the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS) and Food Consumption Score (FCS). Descriptive statistics, Food Consumption Gap Ratio, and composite scoring were employed for data analysis. The SDC project utilized four core instruments: Unconditional Cash Transfer (UCT, 41.67%), Income Generating Activities (IGA, 32.99%), Financial Literacy Training (FLT, 13.89%), and Improved Farm Practice (IFP, 11.46%). HFIAS results indicated that 65.3% of households were food insecure (score >7), while only 34.7% were food secure (score ≤7). Food-insecure households exhibited a severe consumption gap ratio of -0.76. FCS assessment revealed that 50.0% of households had poor food consumption (FCS ≤21), 22.57% were borderline (FCS 21–35), and only 27.43% had acceptable consumption (FCS >35). The overall mean FCS of 25.59 fell within the borderline category. Beneficiaries were predominantly male (70.14%), married (85.76%), with low educational attainment (64.59% having primary education or less), and severely impoverished (70.49% earning ≤₦30,000 monthly). Despite diversified intervention instruments, the SDC project achieved only marginal improvements in food security outcomes. The predominance of cash-based interventions over productive capacity-building suggests a short-term relief orientation rather than sustainable resilience-building. The high prevalence of food insecurity among beneficiaries indicates that current intervention intensity and design require substantial enhancement to meet household food needs in protracted conflict settings.