Measuring Household Resilience to Food Insecurity in Rural Northern Ethiopia Using the RIMA and TANGO Approach
Keywords:
Adaptive capacity, Factor analysis, Resilience, Social safety nets, Structural equation modelingAbstract
Measuring household resilience to food insecurity is critical in regions experiencing growing environmental and socio-economic pressures. This study assessed rural household resilience in rural northern Ethiopia, using two established frameworks: Resilience Index Measurement and Analysis (RIMA) and the Technical Assistance to Non-Governmental Organizations (TANGO) approach. A cross-sectional survey was applied involving of 228 households through multi-stage sampling, combined quantitative and qualitative data. Analytical methods included factor analysis and structural equation modeling. Results from the RIMA framework revealed that adaptive capacity (-1.45), assets (-0.66), and social safety nets (-0.99) were negatively associated with resilience, while access to basic services (1.00) contributed positively. These findings suggest households face heightened vulnerability due to limited adaptive capacity, inadequate assets, and weak social support systems. In contrast, the TANGO approach showed strong positive contributions from absorptive (0.98) and adaptive (0.79) capacities, but a negative loading for transformative capacity (-0.78). Both frameworks produced comparable resilience indices (0.54 for RIMA and 0.51 for TANGO). The study highlights the urgent need for integrated, context-specific programs that strengthen adaptive capacity, expand access to basic services, and enhance institutional support to effectively reduce household food insecurity.
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