Determinants of Rural Household Resilience to Food Insecurity and Variations in Resilience Capacity across Livelihood Groups in Southwest Districts of Rural South Wollo, Ethiopia

Background: This study investigates the determinants of rural household resilience to food insecurity and examines variations in resilience capacity across socioeconomic and demographic groups in the southwest districts of South Wollo, Ethiopia. Objectives: This study examined and measured the determinants of rural household resilience to food insecurity and analyzed variations in resilience capacity across household characteristics and livelihood groups by applying the resilience index measurement and analysis II approaches. Methods: This study used a cross-sectional research design using primary data collected from 366 sample households. A 2-stage factor analysis model was applied. In the first stage, factor analysis was used to construct latent indices for the key resilience dimensions: access to basic services, adaptive capacity, assets, and social safety nets based on observed variables. In the second stage, a higher-order factor analysis was conducted to estimate an overall household resilience capacity index. Results: The results show that access to basic services and assets are the strongest contributors to household resilience, whereas social safety nets play the weakest role, reflecting limited coverage and unreliable support networks. Resilience levels differ significantly across districts, education categories, and household headship, with Legambo district, uneducated households, and female-headed households demonstrating the lowest resilience. Conclusions: The study concludes that resilience to food insecurity is shaped by structural constraints, including poor service access, restricted livelihood diversification, inadequate asset ownership, and weak social protection. The findings underscore the need for multidimensional, gender-responsive, and context-specific strategies to enhance rural household resilience in Ethiopia.