Can Social Safety Nets Alleviate Seasonal Deprivation? Evidence from Northwest Bangladesh

This paper examines the role of social
safety-net programs in Bangladesh run by the government and
nongovernmental organizations to mitigate seasonal
deprivation in the country's highly vulnerable
northwest region. Specifically, the paper explores whether
social safety nets are limited to averting seasonal
deprivation or can also address seasonality of income and
employment more generally. Using a recent survey from the
greater Rangpur (northwest) region, the paper finds that
social safety nets have a positive effect on mitigating both
seasonal and non-seasonal food deprivation. The results are
robust, owing to the recent expanded coverage of social
safety-net programs run by nongovernmental organizations
active in the region. But given the annual recurrence of
monga (seasonal food insecurity) in the northwest region
owing to agricultural seasonality and an overwhelming
dependence on agriculture for livelihoods, social safety
nets are not a reliable tool for monga eradication. Programs
are also needed to promote the income and productivity of
the poor through diversification of income and employment.