Climate variability and food insecurity shocks frequently affect the livelihood of rural households. Therefore, understanding the fundamentals of resilience is essential for enhancing the capabilities of vulnerable households. The objective of this study was to analyze rural households' resilience to the adverse impacts of climate variability and food insecurity in the North-eastern highlands of Ethiopia. Based on a cross-sectional survey, both probability and non-probability sampling procedures were employed to select sample respondents, key informants and focus group discussants. Principal Component Analysis (PCA), one-way ANOVA and linear regression modeling were used to analyze the data. The results indicated that perceptions of climatic variability, agricultural assets, adaptive capacity and income and food access are the four resilience dimensions with the largest contribution to households’ resilience. Likewise, social capital and access to basic services were the next positive contributors. However, agricultural technology adoption and social safety nets were insignificant contributors. Moreover, households living in the Meher livelihood zone/LHZ/were highly resilient followed by ABB and Meher-belg. On the other hand, respondents in the SWS, CHV and Belg LHZs were less resilient. Male-headed households, household heads with formal education and married households were found to be more resilient than their counterparts. The study found that 50.4 % of the respondents were non-resilient and 45.5 % were highly resilient. In conclusion, the adverse impacts of climate-related hazards associated with the existing food insecurity have deteriorated the resilience capacity of rural households by which they became highly vulnerable and could be easily exposed to shocks. The study suggested that unless well-planned intervention is implemented many households might quickly lose their resilience status to worse even by a very little shock. Moreover, enhancing capability aspects should be the primary goal of any interventions aimed at increasing households' resilience in drought-prone areas in general and the study area in particular.

The concept of food insecurity is multidimensional, posing challenges not only in its complex operationalization but also in determining who is considered food secure and who is not. This study aimed to assess the degree of food insecurity among households in the North-Eastern Highlands of Ethiopia. We selected 382 respondents, 17 key informants, and focus group discussants, employing both probability and non-probability sampling methods. The food security index was developed using the Consolidated Approach for Reporting Indicators (CARI) model, which incorporates Food Consumption Score, Food Energy Shortfall, Livelihood Asset Depletion, and Food Expenditure Share indicators. The analysis complemented with descriptive statistics. Results from the CARI analysis revealed that 41.1% of households were food secure, while 29.2% were severely food insecure, 20.4% moderately food insecure, and 9.3% marginally food secure. Overall, 49.6% of households experienced food insecurity, whereas 50.4% were food secure. Food insecurity was more prevalent in female-headed households (53.5%) compared to male-headed households (47.8%). Additionally, the highest food insecurity rates were observed in the Belg Livelihood Zone (LHZ) at 78%, followed by the Chefa Valley (CHV) LHZ at 58%. In contrast, the Meher LHZ had the highest food security rate at 75.6%, followed by SWS LHZ at 60.5%. These findings indicate that food insecurity is a widespread concern within the study area, particularly affecting households in the Belg and Chefa Valley LHZs as well as female-headed households. Therefore, policymakers and concerned development partners should prioritize addressing this issue and take more decisive actions to alleviate it.

Background: Ethiopia frequently experiences food insecurity due to recurrent droughts, food shortages, and famine. Understanding the determinants of food security and the extent of poverty is crucial for effective intervention. Objectives: This study aimed to identify key factors influencing food security and analyze poverty levels among rural households in the North-Eastern Highlands of Ethiopia. Methods: A mixed-methods research design was employed, utilizing both probability and non-probability sampling techniques to select 382 households, focus group discussants, and key informants. Quantitative data on food security and poverty indicators were analyzed using binary logistic regression (for determinants) and the Foster–Greer–Thorbecke (FGT) model (for poverty measurement). Results: The FGT analysis indicated that the incidence, depth, and severity of food insecurity were 55, 18, and 8%, respectively. The Belg (spring) livelihood zone and female-headed households exhibited higher food insecurity, while the Meher (autumn) livelihood zone demonstrated better food security. The binary logistic regression identified 12 significant determinants of food security (P < 0.05), including livelihood zone, education level, sex of household head, family size, off-farm income, land size, number of land plots, number of oxen, use of chemical fertilizer, household head’s health status, experience of conflict, and access to remittances. Conclusion: Household food security in the study area is significantly influenced by a complex interplay of socio-economic, agricultural, and environmental factors and poverty levels remain high in the study area. Interventions aimed at improving food security in the North-Eastern Highlands of Ethiopia should adopt a multi-faceted approach, addressing factors such as education, access to resources, agricultural productivity, and household vulnerability to shocks like conflict and illness. Collaborative efforts by government, non-governmental organizations, and local stakeholders are crucial for achieving sustainable improvements in food security.

Food insecurity is a multidimensional concept adequately challenging not only the complex operationalization effort but also judgments of who is food secure and who is not. This study aimed to assess the level of household food insecurity in the study area. Both probability and non-probability sampling procedures were employed to draw the 367 respondents, key informants, and focus group discussants. The Consolidated Approach for Reportig Indicators (CARI) console model was constructed with four indicators: Food consumption score, Food energy shortfall, Food expenditure share, and Livelihood asset depletion. Descriptive statistics was used to analyze data in the models. The CARI result revealed that 41.1%, 9.3%, 20.4% and 29.2% of households were food secure, marginally food secure, moderately food insecure and severely food insecure, respectively. The overall prevalence showed that 49.6% households were food insecure and 50.4% were food secure. Moreover, female-headed households and households living the Belg and CHV livelihood zones were more food insecure than their counterparts. The study concluded that the problem of food insecurity is pervasive in the study area in general and Belg and CHV livelihood zones, in particular. Therefore, more attention and intervention should be given by policymakers and concerned development partners to alleviate the problem.

Rural households in Ethiopia’s conflict-affected regions face chronic food insecurity aggravated by climate variability, environmental degradation, and armed conflict. Despite existing policy frameworks, empirical evidence concerning how households navigate these overlapping stressors remains limited. This study examines the status, determinants, and response strategies of household food insecurity in the South Wollo Zone, northeastern Ethiopia. Employing a mixed-methods approach, combining a cross-sectional household survey of 388 rural households conducted in 2025 with key informant interviews and focus group discussions. Household food insecurity and its determinants were analyzed using the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS) and ordinal logistic regression, while coping behaviors and adaptation strategies were examined using the Reduced Coping Strategies Index (rCSI), multiple linear regression, and multinomial logistic regression. Results indicate that 67% of households were food insecure, with 34% categorized as severely insecure. Vulnerability was significantly higher among households with large family, limited landholdings, poor soil fertility, inadequate agricultural extension access, and direct conflict exposure (p < 0.05). Most households utilized consumption-based coping mechanisms such as reducing meal sizes and skipping meals which provide immediate relief but weaken long-term household resilience. Conversely, adaptation strategies were influenced by asset ownership and institutional support, frequently involving soil and water conservation, seed reserves, and livelihood diversification. The study underscores the necessity for conflict-sensitive food security policies that prioritize strengthening extension services, improving market and credit accessibility, and promoting resilience-oriented adaptation. Such targeted interventions are critical for sustaining rural livelihoods and diverse food systems within these fragile, highly vulnerable, and conflict-prone environments.