IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND WAGE INCOME ON FOOD SECURITY OF FEMALE-HEADED HOUSEHOLDS IN SELECTED WEST AFRICAN COUNTRIES

Abstract

The critical relevance of food security in West Africa cannot be overemphasised due to the regional level of vulnerability which is driven by conflict, displacement, economic instability, and severe climate shocks. Food security in the West African region faces mounting challenges and climate change has emerged as one of the most significant drivers of the current food crisis. This study represents one of the few empirical investigations that analyzed the impact of climate change and wage income on food security, particularly by comparing households experiencing severe climate change to those without. The broad objective of this research is to examine how climate change and wage income affects food security across West African countries with a particular focus on Nigeria and Senegal. The study is supported by the Resilience Theory which explores household capacity to withstand environmental shocks and the Sustainable Finance Theory, which emphasises the importance of economic stability and inclusion in ensuring long-term food access. A mixed-methods approach was employed to capture both quantitative and qualitative dimensions of the research problem. Quantitative data were obtained from the Living Standards Measurement Study-Integrated Surveys on Agriculture (LSMS-ISA), while qualitative data were collected through fieldwork across selected rural communities. The study utilised Statistical techniques such as Logistic Regression and Propensity Score Matching (PSM) to estimate the effect of climate change exposure and livelihood factors on food consumption outcomes. Geospatial technique was also used to graphically represent the impact of Climate Change. The qualitative analysis complemented the statistical findings with insights from the field especially highlighting gendered dimensions of agricultural labour wage and food consumption. Findings from Nigeria revealed that households exposed to severe climate change experienced 11.1% reduction in food consumption adequacy. Households with female agricultural wage earners had significantly higher odds (55.3%) of achieving high food consumption levels. Climate change was associated with a 10.15% decrease in the likelihood of adequate food consumption (Coefficient: −0.102; T-statistic: −45.77, p<0.001), emphasising the negative impact of environmental stress on food access. Notably, the interaction between climate change and household wage (Coefficient: 0.724; z = 14.56, p<0.001) showed positive influence indicating that wage stability can moderate the adverse effects of climate disruptions. In contrast, findings from Senegal revealed a marginally positive relationship between severe climate change exposure and food consumption (Coefficient: 0.219; p = 0.056), likely due to the presence of food aid, adaptation strategies, and coping mechanisms. However, the absence of female agricultural wage earners significantly reduced food consumption (Coefficient: −0.485; p = 0.003), reinforcing the importance of gender inclusion in the agricultural sector economy. Food purchases emerged as a critical determinant of food consumption in both countries, linking market access and household income directly to food security. This study recommends that policymakers implement integrated strategies that promote climate resilience, increase household income through wage diversification and empower women in agriculture. Therefore, investment in climate-smart agriculture, social protection programs, market stabilisation mechanisms, and gender-sensitive employment policies are essential to ensure sustainable food security in West Africa. Keywords: Climate Change, Food Security,