Post-Pandemic Crisis and Convergence: Child Disability and Food Insecurity in Rural Niger

This study examines food-insecurity patterns under conditions of crisis, using unique 2019–2022 panel data from rural Niger. The period was marked by overlapping shocks related to the COVID-19 pandemic, irregular rainfall, and insecurity. We compared children with disabilities and their households with matched peers to study changes in food security. Results indicate that disabled children and their caregivers were more food insecure than their peers before the crisis period. By 2022, food insecurity was more widespread. The gap between disabled children and their peers had narrowed, and disability status was no longer significantly associated with food insecurity in adjusted models. School attendance, fostering, and access to a tontine were associated with lower food insecurity after the crisis. These findings suggest that when multiple crises overlap, pre-existing disability-related inequalities in food insecurity may narrow rather than widen, even as overall food insecurity increases.