Evaluating the Effectiveness of Food-for-Work and Cash-for-Work Interventions on Household Livelihoods and Educational Outcomes among Vulnerable Communities in Zambia

This study evaluated the effectiveness of Food-for-Work (FFW) and Cash-for-Work (CFW) interventions on household livelihoods and educational outcomes among vulnerable communities in Zambia and examined their implications for educational management and policy. Persistent poverty, food insecurity, unemployment, and limited livelihood opportunities continue to undermine educational access, participation, and achievement among vulnerable households. Guided by the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework and Human Capital Theory, the study adopted a pragmatic mixed-methods approach using a convergent parallel research design. Data were collected from 240 respondents, including beneficiary households, teachers, school administrators, community leaders, programme coordinators, and education officers. Quantitative data were analysed using SPSS, while qualitative data were analysed thematically.

The findings revealed that both FFW and CFW interventions significantly improved food security, household income, purchasing power, asset ownership, and resilience. Cash-for-Work promoted livelihood diversification and income-generating activities, while Food-for-Work strengthened food security during periods of scarcity. Improved livelihoods enabled households to meet educational expenses, resulting in better school attendance, retention, progression, learner participation, and engagement. However, programme effectiveness was constrained by inadequate funding, delayed disbursements, weak monitoring systems, and limited coverage. The study concludes that integrating social protection with educational planning can strengthen educational equity, human capital development, and sustainable national development in Zambia.