Global Development speaker examines mediators of food security during economic shocks

From: Center for International Research, Education, and Development

Crops, markets, and income alone cannot provide a full picture of food insecurity and resilience, according to Cheryl Doss, the next speaker in the Global Development Discussion Series.

A professor of economics at Tufts University, Doss has found that what happens inside households — who makes decisions, who controls resources, and how power is shared — can be just as consequential as external economic conditions.

Rising food prices, health crises, and climate‑related agricultural losses can be devastating. Drawing on research from rural Oromia, Ethiopia, Doss shows that household decision-making dynamics significantly shape whether these shocks lead to worsening food insecurity.

“Women’s empowerment matters in more ways than we initially thought,” Doss said. “It doesn’t just improve food security — it helps households cope when things go wrong.”

Using survey data, Doss examines how different combinations of women’s and men’s empowerment shape household resilience over time.

“We often focus on women’s empowerment, but it is also important to pay attention to the men in the household,” Doss said. “It’s how women’s and men’s empowerment interact inside the household that shapes outcomes.”

The Global Development Discussion Series is hosted by the Center for International Research, Education, and Development (CIRED) and co-sponsored by Continuing and Professional Development. Both are units of Outreach and International Affairs.

Doss will discuss her findings and their implications on Thursday, April 23, at 2:30 p.m. via Zoom. Register at cired.vt.edu/discussion-series.

This event is free and open to the public.

If you require accommodations to participate, please email mechristie@vt.edu at least 10 days prior to the event.