Precision in Crisis: Evaluating Targeted Nutrition and Social Protection Policies for Food Security
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.61978/sativa.v1i4.1431Keywords:
Food Insecurity, Targeted Interventions, School Feeding, Social Protection, Nutrition Policy, Economic Crisis, Dietary DiversityAbstract
Food insecurity is increasingly exacerbated by economic crises and supply chain disruptions. While governments often rely on universal food subsidies during such periods, emerging evidence points to the greater efficiency of targeted food and nutrition interventions. This study assesses the comparative effectiveness of targeted versus universal approaches in safeguarding food access. A comparative policy analysis was conducted using secondary data from global institutions and national program evaluations. The analysis focused on three intervention types school feeding, maternal-child nutrition support, and conditional cash/voucher programs measured by changes in dietary diversity, food security indices, and school attendance. Results indicate that targeted interventions outperform universal subsidies across key metrics. School feeding programs improved stunting rates and attendance, while maternal-child nutrition interventions raised dietary diversity scores. Targeted cash and voucher programs led to 22–24% increases in the Food Security Index compared to less than 9% for universal subsidies. Despite higher administrative costs, targeted strategies offer better return on investment and more precise resource allocation. The discussion emphasizes the importance of coordination, community involvement, and real-time data systems for successful implementation and scalability. The evidence supports a policy shift from universal food price interventions toward precision-targeted social protection and nutrition strategies. These programs enhance food access and long-term resilience, particularly for vulnerable populations, and should be prioritized in national food security frameworks.
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