A Multidimensional Food Security Assessment Using FCS, Calorie Intake, and Foster–Greer–Thorbecke Indices: Evidence From Rural Households in Werebabo District, Ethiopia

Food security remains a persistent challenge in rural Ethiopia, where livelihoods depend heavily on rain‐fed agriculture and are increasingly threatened by climate variability, land degradation, and socioeconomic constraints. This study provides a multidimensional assessment of household food security and its determinants in Werebabo District, South Wollo Zone. Using a concurrent mixed‐methods design, data were collected from 204 rural households through surveys, key informant interviews (KIIs), and focus group discussions (FGDs). Household food security status was evaluated using the food consumption score (FCS), dietary energy supply (kcal), and the Foster–Greer–Thorbecke (FGT) index. At the same time, a Firth’s penalized likelihood logistic regression model was applied to identify key determinants of food security. The findings disclose that more than half of the households were food insecure, with 56.9% classified as food insecure based on FCS and 57.3% based on calorie intake. Joint analysis shows that 53.4% of households experienced both quantitative and qualitative food deprivation. The FGT results indicate considerable depth (23%) and severity (11%) of food insecurity, particularly in the Dega agro‐ecological zone. Female‐headed households were disproportionately affected. Regression analysis identified agro‐ecology, education level, family size, landholding size, oxen ownership, and fertilizer utilization, conflict exposure, and remittances as significant predictors. The study highlights that food insecurity in the district is not merely a matter of insufficient calories but reflects structural, environmental, and institutional constraints. Targeted, context‐specific interventions that account for agro‐ecological and gender disparities are therefore essential to strengthen resilience and improve rural livelihoods.