Mobile money and household resilience to food insecurity in Rural Mali: the role of livelihood strategies and digital transfers
Abstract Food insecurity remains a persistent challenge in low-income, agriculturally dependent countries like Mali, where limited access to formal financial services constrains households’ ability to cope with economic shocks. Despite the growing adoption of mobile money across Sub-Saharan Africa,...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Springer
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Journal of the Saudi Society of Agricultural Sciences |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1007/s44447-025-00034-7 |
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| Summary: | Abstract Food insecurity remains a persistent challenge in low-income, agriculturally dependent countries like Mali, where limited access to formal financial services constrains households’ ability to cope with economic shocks. Despite the growing adoption of mobile money across Sub-Saharan Africa, little is known about its specific impact on food security outcomes and coping strategies at the household level. This study examines the relationship between mobile money use and household food security in Mali, with a focus on gender and rural–urban disparities. Using cross-sectional household data and an ordered probit model with marginal effects, we find that mobile money use significantly improves food security outcomes. Households using mobile money are less likely to experience moderate or severe food insecurity. They are also less inclined to adopt negative coping strategies such as reducing meal quality or skipping meals. These effects are more pronounced in rural areas and among male-headed households, reflecting underlying inequalities in access to financial tools and productive resources. Our findings align with previous studies in Sub-Saharan Africa, confirming the role of mobile money in enhancing household resilience by facilitating access to financial support and reducing vulnerability to food shocks. The study provides policy-relevant insights, suggesting that promoting mobile money access, especially among women and rural populations, could be an effective strategy to improve food and nutritional security in low-income, agriculturally dependent contexts. |
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| ISSN: | 1658-077X |