article · World Development
This study investigated the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on household income and food security in Kenya and Uganda, using online survey data from 442 respondents. It found that over two-thirds of respondents experienced income shocks, leading to a worsening of food security and dietary quality. Food insecurity increased significantly in both countries, and fruit consumption decreased. Households with low incomes and those reliant on labour income were particularly vulnerable to income shocks and poorer food consumption, often resorting to food-based coping strategies. Farmers, however, were less affected than those dependent on market food sources. While national social security schemes were largely ineffective, membership in savings and loan groups helped mitigate income shocks and maintain food consumption. The findings suggest a need for structural changes in social security and stronger financial institutions to support recovery and resilient food supply chains.
This research highlights the severe economic and food security challenges faced by households in East Africa during a pandemic. Understanding these impacts is crucial for designing effective social security programmes, strengthening financial institutions, and building resilient food systems to protect vulnerable populations from future crises.
The abstract does not indicate a direct application pathway for commercialisation. It focuses on policy recommendations for governments and financial institutions regarding social security, business recovery, and food supply chain resilience, rather than specific products, services, or technologies for commercial development.
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This study assessed implications of the Coronavirus Disease 19 (COVID-19) pandemic on household income and food security in two East African countries - Kenya and Uganda, using online survey data from 442 respondents. Results show that more than two-thirds of the respondents experienced income shocks due to the COVID-19 crisis. Food security and dietary quality worsened, as measured by the food insecurity experience scale and the frequency of consumption of nutritionally-rich foods. The proportion of food insecure respondents increased by 38% and 44% in Kenya and Uganda respectively, and in both countries, the regular consumption of fruits decreased by about 30% during the COVID-19 pandemic, compared to a normal period (before the pandemic). Results from probit regressions show that the income-poor households and those dependent on labour income were more vulnerable to income shock, and had poorer food consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to other respondent categories. As such, they were more likely to employ food-based coping strategies compared to those pursuing alternative livelihoods, who generally relied on savings. Farmers were less likely to experience worsened food security compared to other respondent categories who depended to a great extent on market sources for food. In both countries, participation in national social security schemes was less likely to mitigate respondents' income shock during the COVID-19 period. Conversely, membership in savings and loan groups was correlated with less likelihood of suffering income shocks and reduction in food consumption. The results suggest that ongoing and future government responses should focus on structural changes in social security by developing responsive packages to cushion members pushed into poverty by such pandemics while building strong financial institutions to support the recovery of businesses in the medium term, and ensuring the resilience of food supply chains particularly those making available nutrient-dense foods.
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DOI: 10.1016/j.worlddev.2020.105199
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