Zemichael G/yohans2025-12-092025-09-23https://repository.mu.edu.et/handle/123456789/1067This study rigorously quantifies the causal effect of household energy poverty on the severity of food insecurity in Wereda Laelay Maychew, Central Zone of Tigray, addressing the critical methodological challenge of endogeneity present in previous correlation-based studies. The research employed a two-stage Control Function Approach (CFA), using geographic distance to the electricity grid as a valid instrumental variable. This allowed for unconfounded estimation of the impact on the Household Food Insecurity Access Score (HFIA_Score_27), a continuous count variable, via a corrected Poisson regression model. The formal endogeneity test conclusively validated the necessity of the CFA correction (P<0.001). The corrected estimates established a robust, positive, and highly significant causal relationship. Specifically, the Average Marginal Effect (AME) revealed that being classified as energy poor causes the expected HFIA_Score_27 to increase by an average of 15.72 units (P<0.001). This strong quantitative evidence moves beyond mere association, establishing energy poverty as a fundamental structural determinant that significantly compromises food security. The findings necessitate an integrated policy framework prioritizing substantial investment in clean, affordable household energy access as an essential strategy for sustainable reductions in food insecurity.enEnergy povertyfood securitydietary diversityControl Function ApproachendogeneityTigrayEthiopia.Thesis