Background

A sizable proportion of the Ethiopia’s population has been surviving on imported food through aid and relief support over many decades. One of the means to overcome these overwhelming problems is through innovative interventions, which requires professional expertise in analyzing and designing appropriate food security policy and strategy at various levels. Thus, graduate students in Food Security and Development Studies have a great role to play in fighting poverty and food insecurity in the country and beyond. The goal of the program is laudable when seen in the contexts of Addis Ababa University (AAU) mission statements and in the contexts of the social and economic development of the country. Moreover, the Food Security and Development program contributes to the national efforts aimed at attaining food security in Ethiopia. The program goals and learning outcomes are thought to be aligned with the national development agendas and policy documents (e.g., Higher Education Policy; Ten Year Development Plan, Agricultural Development Policies and Strategies and SDG).

The Center for Food Security Studies (CFSS) is one of the six centers that are running under the College of Development Studies. The center was launched in 2009 to fill the human resource gap in food security studies, and 12 batches of MSc students graduated since its establishment. Moreover, the center has launched a PhD program in the same field in 2016/17, and part of candidates in the first batch graduated. The two programs are going smoothly. The alumni of the Center have been contributing vigorously in teaching, researching, offering consultancy services, policy advisory services, and active development prac­titioners in various governmental organizations, NGOs, UN agencies and private enterprises, which are involved in food security and disaster risk management as part of the country’s endeavor for sustainable development. Both the MA and PhD programs are under serious reviews.

In addition to the already running programs, the center has also initiated another MSc and Ph.D. Program in Disaster Risk Management and Development. The Center has conducted a need-based assessment survey and validation workshops to launch the program which has provided the basis for justifying the relevance and importance of the PhD program. As a result, the Center is accomplishing all the necessary activities to launch the PhD program as of 2022/23 academic year.

Vision

The center aspires to be among the top five centers of excellence in food security, disaster risk management and development studies in Africa by 2030.

Mission

The mission of the center is to produce competent graduates, provide need-based community service and produce problem-solving research outputs in food security, disaster risk management and development through innovative and creative education, research and consultancy service to foster social and economic development of the country.

Objectives

The Center is aspiring to:

• train competent professionals (academicians, policy advisors, researchers, consultants, employees, etc.) in multidisciplinary approach in food security, disaster risk management and development.
• undertake rigorous scientific research (both theoretical and applied) that would push the frontier of knowledge on the one hand and research for development (problem solving, to inform the policy, etc.) on the other,
• contribute to the country’s effort aimed at attaining food security and disaster resilient community through policy formulation, advisory, consultancy, community services and advocacy undertakings,
• offer community and consultancy services, and short–term training on food security, livelihood, nutritional security, vulnerability assessment, environmental impact assessment, disaster risk screening, climate change adaptation and mitigation and other issues relevant to its mandate areas.
• contribute to the country’s effort in reducing shortage of highly skilled professionals for the job market in the area of food security, disaster risk management and sustainable development.

Faculty Profile

The programs at the Center for Food Security Studies involve multidisciplinary in nature. Hence, CFSS has an adequate, well qualified and com­mitted academic staff with relevant specializations to effectively offer the program courses and practices. The program has also adjunct and home-base staff members who involve in the activities of the program based on their qualification and specialization. The major spe­cialization of the faculty includes, but is not limited to, Food Security Studies, Geography and Environmental Studies, Life Sciences, Agricultural Sciences, Natural Resources Management, Economics, Food Science, and Disaster Risk Management. CFSS also make use of highly qualified and experiences of faculty members in the other centers of the College of Development Studies with relevant specializations to its program. The Center invites professionals in the activities of the program as part-time instructors and research collaborators based on their qualification and specialization, when the need arises.

Available Resources

• Well-equipped IT laboratory
• Digital library (on progress)
• Well qualified academic staffs
• E-books, journals and advanced teaching materials
• Offices for PhD fellows

Research Priority Areas

• Food systems, markets, sovereignty, institutions and policy
• Livelihoods, food security & poverty analysis
• Poverty, famine, and famine history in Ethiopia
• Nutrition, food safety & environmental health
• Disaster risk management and resilient economy
• Natural resources management & food security nexus
• Social protection and inclusiveness (safety nets and rights to food)
• Urbanization and environmental pollution
• Indigenous knowledge for food security
• Agriculture, value chain, post–harvest losses and management
• Pastoralism, Climate change and variability and vulnerability

Number of Graduates

Over 150 graduates since its establishment in 2009/10 academic year

Future Expansion Plans

• Strengthen and expand existing Programs
• Strengthen and establish partnership with pertinent stakeholders
• Provide demand-driven and tailored short term trainings
• Offer consultancy service on issues pertinent to food security, disaster risk management and development.
• Offer community services on issues pertinent to food security, disaster risk management and development
• Establish Centre level database for publication and research output