Effect of COVID-19 on Income and Food Security Status Across the Globe
Researchers
Kazi Eliza Islam, Munshi Sulaiman, Md, Abdul Momin, Sr
Abstract
COVID-19 has devastated the livelihoods of millions of people across the globe. To get a snapshot of the effect of COVID-19 on BRAC’s program participants, BRAC International (BI) conducts two rapid assessments in nine BI countries between the first and third weeks of April 2020. A total 1,019 respondents in the first round and 2,475 respondents in the second round were interviewed over the phone using a short and structured questionnaire. The aim is to capture changes in food and income security status of program participants between the two rounds of surveys, as well as understand people’s coping capacity during the outbreak of COVID-19. While most of the respondents across all countries reported either a little or a lot of reduction in income due to disruption in economic activities, people engaged in business, and casual labour are among the most affected. High risk of food insecurity is evident as a large proportion of respondents across all countries reported a reduction in food consumption due to a combination of income loss, depletion in food stock and price hike induced by COVID-19. Immediate food supplementation and economic recovery interventions are highly recommended among survey populations. The goal of the project is to see the effect of COVID-19 on food and income security of BRAC Program participants living in nine low-income countries across Asia and Africa, and to support BI to design and adjust its COVID-19-related response strategy to be more effective.
Project Outcomes of Interest
Income and food security; coping strategies; access to markets and banking facilities; impact on children; any other impact such as crimes or violence resulting from the pandemic situation
Partners
Key Findings
While most of the respondents across all countries reported either a little or a lot of reduction in income due to disruption in economic activities, people engaged in business, and casual labor are among the most affected. High risk of food insecurity is evident as a large proportion of respondents across all countries reported a reduction in food consumption due to a combination of income loss, depletion in food stock, and price hike induced by COVID-19.
Link to Results
Full results are available here
Impact Goals
- Build resilience and protect the financial health of families and individuals
- Build resilient and adaptable businesses and employment opportunities
- Improve social-safety net responses
- Keep children safe, healthy, and learning
Project Data Collection Mode
- CATI (Computer-assisted telephone interviewing)
Link to Public Data
Implementing Organization
BRAC International
Results Status
Results