Researchers

Rebecca Lohmann, Lisa Hoffmann, Jann Lay

Abstract

How does the outbreak of COVID-19 affect livelihoods and food security in rural Liberia? COVID-19 is not only a direct threat to health but has also disrupted domestic food supply chains, food production and formal and informal labour income in many developing countries. In an earlier study, researchers compared the impact of large-scale agricultural investments (LSAIs) on livelihoods, i.e. consumption, assets and employment, in 73 villages by interviewing more than 2,000 inhabitants in LSAI-affected and matched control villages near two palm oil investment areas in rural Liberia. In this follow-up study, they conduct computer-assisted phone interviews with about 500 of these 2,000 people. Participants answer questions on their consumption, assets, employment and food security for two points in time: May and September 2020. By comparing the results of the previous study with the results of the current data, the team investigates how COVID-19 and its associated restrictions impact livelihoods and food security and if its medium-term effect (September) differs from the short-term effect (May). They further investigate whether the effect is heterogeneous across treatment status.

Project Outcomes of Interest

Consumption, Food Security, Wealth

Partners

German Institute for Global and Area Studies, Forest Monitor

Impact Goals

Project Data Collection Mode

Implementing Organization

German Institute for Global and Area Studies (GIGA)

Results Status

No Results Yet