Impact of Livelihood Diversification on Food Security among Youth‐Headed Households in Coastal Fishing Communities in Ghana

Abstract

Food insecurity and youth unemployment remain alarmingly high in many Sub‐Saharan African (SSA) countries, including Ghana. In response, governments and development partners increasingly promote livelihood diversification as a policy option to improve household welfare. Although a growing body of literature examines the welfare effects of livelihood diversification, limited evidence exists on its implications for youth‐headed households (YHHs), despite youth constituting a large share of the population in many developing countries. Using a mixed‐methods approach, this study analyzes the effect of livelihood diversification on food security among YHHs in coastal fishing communities in the Greater Accra and Central Regions of Ghana. Primary data were collected from 424 YHHs, complemented by 20 focus group discussions (FGDs) conducted in 14 coastal fishing communities. Food security was measured using the Household Dietary Diversity Score (HDDS) and the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS). The inverse probability weighting regression adjustment (IPWRA) estimator was employed to analyze the quantitative data. The results show that livelihood diversification significantly improves food security among YHHs in coastal fishing communities in Southern Ghana. The findings suggest that government agencies such as the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development (MoFAD), the Fisheries Commission, and development partners should expand and support context‐specific livelihood diversification strategies, in particular access to nonfisheries skilled trades and income opportunities to enhance food security and welfare among YHHs in coastal fishing communities.