SPIR Learning Agenda: Challenges for livelihoods and food security during the COVID-19 pandemic

The webinar on challenges for livelihoods and food security during the COVID-19 pandemic presents results of a phone survey conducted in early June 2020 of more than 1,100 rural households who are beneficiaries of the fourth phase of Ethiopia’s Productive Safety Net Program (PSNP4) and who also participate in the USAID-funded Strengthening PSNP4 Institutions and Resilience (SPIR) project. We report evidence from this survey on coronavirus awareness, protective measures taken and coping strategies; changes in livelihoods and food security; assistance received; and experience and expectations with desert locusts, another significant shock affecting some of the study areas. We consider implications of the patterns of effects for response to the pandemic.

Opening remarks and overview of study design

• Michael Mulford, Chief of Party, World Vision
• Daniel Gilligan, Deputy Division Director, Poverty, Health, and Nutrition Division, IFPRI

Coronavirus awareness, responses and reported effects

• Melissa Hidrobo, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI

Changes in livelihoods and food security, access to assistance and experience of desert locusts

• Jessica Leight, Research Fellow, IFPRI

Access to assistance and experience of desert locusts

• Harold Alderman, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI

Questions and answers

• Lucy Billings, Senior Program Manager, IFPRI

Closing remarks and plans for next COVID survey

• Daniel Gilligan, Deputy Division Director, Poverty, Health, and Nutrition Division, IFPRI