世界发展银行-Monitoring-the-Socio-Economic-Impacts-of-COVID-19-on-Djiboutian-Households---Results-from-Second-Wave-of-Survey-_September-20-October-18__16页_834kb

Summary of the Socio-Economic Impacts of COVID-19 on Djiboutian Households

Core Content

The document presents the findings of the second wave of the Djibouti National Institute of Statistics (INSD) phone survey, conducted from September 20 to October 18, 2020, to monitor the socio-economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on households. The survey was carried out with technical assistance from the World Bank and aimed to capture the evolving situation following the initial lockdown in March 2020, which was lifted in May.

The survey sample included 1,460 households, with a response rate of 85.3%, representing the urban population except for the top wealth quintile. The sample combined a panel of households from the first wave with a replacement sample to account for attrition. The survey revealed that economic activities were trending back to normal, with 77% of breadwinners working in the week before the survey, up from 59% in the first wave.

Main Views

• Economic Recovery:

  • Economic activities have been recovering since mid-May, with 77% of breadwinners working in the second wave.
  • The share of breadwinners working as usual increased from 54% in the first wave to 73% in the second wave.
  • The percentage of breadwinners working less than usual declined from 42% to 25%.

• Sectoral Differences:

  • Workers in the informal sector were less likely to be working (71%) compared to those in the formal private (82%) and public sectors (86%).
  • Informal workers face higher job insecurity, with 29% not working in the second wave, compared to 17% of formal workers.

• Wealth Quintile:

  • The ability to work was similar between poor and non-poor households.
  • The bottom quintile had 76% of breadwinners working, while the fourth quintile had 79%.
  • The poor were more likely to not be paid (45%) compared to the non-poor (34%).

• Income Changes:

  • More workers received partial wages in the second wave (50%) compared to the first wave.
  • The percentage of breadwinners receiving no wage decreased by 9 percentage points, but partial wage recipients increased by 13 percentage points.

• Basic Goods and Medicines:

  • Basic goods were available to 90% of households, with access improving since the first wave.
  • Access to basic medicines declined, which is a cause for concern.
  • Rising prices and affordability issues were cited as the main reasons for limited access to basic medicines.

• Food Insecurity:

  • 40% of households were worried about not having enough food due to economic constraints.
  • 42% of households compromised on food quality, while 28% and 14% cut meal size or skipped meals.
  • The poor experienced higher levels of food insecurity compared to non-poor households.
  • The survey used the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS) to assess food insecurity, classifying households into three categories: food secure, moderately food insecure, and severely food insecure.

• Social Protection:

  • 4% of households received cash transfers, and 11% received food assistance, indicating a modest decline from the first wave.
  • 44% of households reported that some or all of their income came from government assistance.
  • Government, NGOs, and family networks are the main sources of support for households.

• Healthcare Access:

  • 38% of households needed some healthcare in September/October, up from 18% in July.
  • 14% of households were unable to access healthcare when needed, with no significant difference between poor and non-poor.
  • Healthcare access improved compared to the first wave, with 86% of households accessing healthcare when needed, up from 63%.

• Education:

  • Most children returned to school in September, with the main reason for absence being school unpreparedness.

• Household Outlook and Satisfaction:

  • 55% of households were optimistic about their future, while 10% expected it to get worse.
  • 37% of urban households were satisfied with their current lives, with satisfaction being highest in Balbala (44%) and lowest in other urban areas (30%).

Key Information

• Sampling and Methodology:

  • The survey included a representative sample of the urban population.
  • A panel of households from the first wave was combined with a replacement sample.
  • The survey was conducted via telephone interviews.

• Demographics:

  • 44.4% of respondents were female.
  • The largest share of respondents were aged between 35 and 49 (42.3%).
  • Breadwinners were mostly male (71.1%) and older than respondents.

• Professional Categories:

  • Daily workers were the largest professional category among breadwinners, accounting for 41% nationally.
  • Self-employment and informal work were more prevalent among the poor.

• Government Response:

  • The government implemented measures to limit the impact of containment policies on the economy.
  • Social protection measures, including cash transfers and food assistance, played a key role in supporting households.

• Challenges:

  • Despite some recovery, households continue to face challenges related to food insecurity and access to basic medicines.
  • Job insecurity and income reduction remain significant issues, particularly for informal workers and the poor.

• Optimism:

  • Households in Balbala were more optimistic about the future than those in other urban areas.
  • Life satisfaction was highest in Balbala (44%) and lowest in other urban areas (30%).

Conclusion

The second wave of the survey indicates a trend toward economic recovery in Djibouti, with increased employment and improved access to basic goods. However, challenges persist, particularly for informal workers and the poor, who are more vulnerable to income reduction and food insecurity. The government's social protection measures have provided some support, but concerns remain regarding the availability of basic medicines and the long-term impact of the pandemic on household welfare. Overall, households remain cautiously optimistic about the future, though satisfaction with current living conditions is uneven across different regions and socioeconomic groups.