世界发展银行-The-Socioeconomic-Impacts-of-COVID-19-on-Households-in-Cambodia,-Report-No.-3---Results-from-the-High-Frequency-Phone-Survey-of-Households,-Round-3_11页_480kb

Summary of The Socioeconomic Impacts of COVID-19 on Households in Cambodia (HFPS Round 3)

Core Content

The World Bank Group conducted the High-Frequency Phone Survey (HFPS) Round 3 (October–November 2020) to monitor the socioeconomic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on Cambodian households. The survey included 1,665 households, divided into two samples: 481 from the LSMS+ survey and 1,184 from the IDPoor program, which targets poor and vulnerable households.

The survey aimed to assess knowledge and behavior related to the pandemic, economic activity, access to basic goods and services, exposure to shocks, and the effectiveness of social assistance programs. It tracked the same households over 10 months, with interviews conducted every 8 weeks.

Main Findings

Willingness to Test and Vaccinate

• High willingness to get tested for and vaccinated against COVID-19 at no cost.
  • 84% of LSMS+ households and 87% of IDPoor households were willing to get tested for free.
  • 90% of all respondents were willing to receive a free vaccine.
• Cost concerns reduced willingness to vaccinate:
  • 31 percentage points decline among IDPoor households when there is a cost.
  • 22 percentage points decline among LSMS+ households when there is a cost.
• Perceived risk and side effects are key reasons for hesitation.
• IDPoor households are more likely to be hesitant due to financial constraints.

Access to Basic Goods and Services

• Markets remained functional and able to supply basic necessities.
• Access to food staples (rice, fish/meat, vegetables/fruits) was consistent across all households.
• Access to medicine and health services remained nearly universal.
• Demand for health services increased but access was not affected.

Schooling and Learning Activities

• School closures had a significant impact on learning, but reopening led to a return to pre-pandemic levels.
• In October, 92% of households with school-age children (6–17) reported children engaged in learning activities, up from 63% in May.
• Face-to-face meetings with teachers increased, while remote learning (mobile apps, TV) decreased.
• Poorest households had more access to teacher meetings than richer ones, suggesting unequal access to remote learning.
• The learning participation gap between poorest and richer households decreased from 10 to 6 percentage points.

Employment and Income Trends

• Employment remained steady since May 2020, though not yet at pre-pandemic levels.
  • 65% of respondents were working in October, down from 82% pre-pandemic.
  • Seasonality and flooding were the main reasons for job loss, not the pandemic.
• Non-farm household businesses faced significant revenue declines, but the trend is slowing.
  • 54% reported lower or no revenues in October, compared to 81% in May.
  • Services sector experienced higher revenue loss than manufacturing.
• Income loss continued but at a slower rate:
  • 51% of households experienced income decline from August to October.
  • Government and NGO assistance helped mitigate losses.
  • Average income loss was 39% in October.

Perceived Household Well-Being

• Two-thirds of households reported a decline in well-being compared to September 2019.
• Fewer households reported a decline since June 2020, likely due to social assistance programs.
• Perceived economic status was deteriorating but slowed with the introduction of relief measures.

Social Assistance and Relief Transfers

• The IDPoor program launched in June 2020 has significantly increased coverage.
  • 92% of IDPoor households received social assistance by October.
  • Cash transfers were the main form of assistance, accounting for 90% of all support.
• Food insecurity declined:
  • From 48% in August to 17% in October among LSMS+ households.
  • From 67% to 39% among IDPoor households.
• Relief transfers were mostly spent on food, contributing to improved economic well-being.
• Perceived importance of the relief program:
  • 45% of IDPoor households found it extremely important.
  • 44% found it very important.
  • 46% of households reported it made a big difference.

Payment Methods

• Cash is still the dominant payment method in Cambodia.
  • 86% of respondents have no bank or mobile money account.
  • Mobile money accounts are more common among IDPoor households (19%).
  • Convenience and safety are motivators for using alternative payment methods.

Key Information

• Survey Methodology: Two samples—LSMS+ (nationally representative) and IDPoor (targeted).
• Timeframe: October–November 2020 (Round 3), compared with previous rounds (May–June and August–September 2020).
• Government Response: Launched a nationwide cash relief program in June 2020, with an initial budget of $25 million/month.
• Impact of Relief Transfers: Helped reduce food insecurity and income loss, but not all households were covered.
• Coverage Gaps: 8% of IDPoor households had not received transfers by October, often due to lack of registration.

Conclusion

The HFPS Round 3 highlights that while the pandemic continues to have socioeconomic impacts, household well-being and economic status have improved with the introduction of social assistance programs. Willingness to test and vaccinate remains high when services are free, but cost concerns significantly reduce this willingness. School reopenings have improved learning opportunities, though remote learning remains less accessible for poorer households. Cash remains the primary payment method, and government relief transfers have played a crucial role in mitigating income and food insecurity, although coverage is still incomplete and targeted awareness campaigns may be needed.