2015年-世界发展银行全球_The_Socio-Economic_Impacts_of_Ebola_in_Sierra_Leone___Results_from_a_High_Frequency_Cell_Phone_Survey_Round_3_25页_1mb

Summary of the Socio-Economic Impacts of Ebola in Sierra Leone (Round 3, June 15, 2015)

Core Content

This document presents the findings of the third round of a high-frequency cell phone survey conducted in Sierra Leone to assess the socio-economic impacts of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak. The survey was carried out by Statistics Sierra Leone with support from the World Bank Group and other partners. The data focuses on employment, agriculture, food security, health service utilization, and other key economic indicators, highlighting both recovery and lingering effects of the crisis.

Main Findings

Employment Recovery

• Employment rates have returned to pre-EVD levels, with 91% of respondents reporting employment in round 3 compared to 84% in round 1 and 86% in round 2.
• Urban areas, particularly Freetown and other urban centers, have seen significant recovery, with employment rates matching the 2014 Labor Force Survey (LFS) baseline.
• Self-employment has improved, with more people re-entering than exiting the sector between rounds 2 and 3.
• Male employment remains higher than female employment (95% vs. 80%).
• Wage workers experienced a decline in earnings, with an average monthly nominal earning of 527,000 Leones (USD 120) in round 3, down from 698,000 Leones (USD 159) in the LFS.
• Hours worked are still below pre-crisis levels, especially in rural areas.

Non-Farm Household Enterprises

• The share of households that reported closing a business in the last six months increased from 4% in the LFS to 22% in round 2, but slowed to 13% in round 3.
• Lack of capital is now the most common reason for business closure (57%), compared to 9% in round 1 and 29% in round 2.
• Revenues for non-farm household enterprises remain significantly lower than the LFS baseline, at 570,000 Leones (USD 131) in round 3, down from 1.6 million Leones (USD 336).
• Sector switching is common, with 35% of those who worked in both the LFS and round 3 working in a different sector. This may be due to seasonal labor demands and economic shifts.

Youth Employment

• Youth employment rates (ages 15–35) have rebounded, with no statistically significant difference from the LFS baseline by round 3.
• Youth-owned non-farm enterprises continue to face revenue challenges, with earnings 50–65% lower than pre-crisis levels.
• Hours worked by youth remain lower than the LFS baseline (41 hours vs. 48 hours), especially in rural areas.

Agriculture

• The 2014 rice harvest is complete, with 95% of rice-growing households reporting completion by May 2015.
• Rice production is estimated at 632 kg per household in round 3, slightly higher than round 2 but not statistically significant.
• Rice sales have increased, with 36% of households selling at least part of their crop by May 2015.
• New planting is underway, with less than 2% of households indicating they would not plant rice in the upcoming season.
• Labor markets are functioning, with 40% of agricultural households hiring labor for rice planting.
• Cocoa markets show no disruption, with nearly 75% of cocoa farmers not having harvested yet, and most selling dried cocoa.

Food Security and Prices

• Food insecurity remains high, with approximately two-thirds of households surveyed reporting food insecurity across all three rounds.
• Coping strategies have decreased in frequency, indicating improved conditions.
• Rice prices have risen in rural areas and neighboring countries, potentially encouraging increased planting.

Health and Education

• Health service utilization has improved, with 89% of households reporting that a member gave birth in a hospital or clinic in the two months prior to the survey.
• School attendance for children aged 6–17 has increased, with 87% of households reporting all children are in school.
• Radio-based education remains a key coping mechanism, with over 70% of households with school-aged children listening to educational programs on the radio.

Key Information

• EVD cases have decreased significantly, with a maximum of 15 new cases per week reported after the nationwide lockdown and information campaign in March 2015.
• Economic contraction is expected due to the decline in the iron ore sector, which has led to reduced government revenues and employment opportunities.
• Cell phone survey coverage was uneven, with urban areas having higher coverage (82%) than rural areas (43%).
• Data collection was based on the 2014 LFS, with 66% of households having cell phones and 51% participating in all three rounds.
• Methodology includes the use of a nationally-representative sample, with results disaggregated into rural areas, Freetown, and other urban areas.

Conclusion

The third round of the cell phone survey indicates that Sierra Leone is on the path to economic recovery, with employment levels returning to baseline and improved access to health services and education. However, the economy has not fully rebounded, and many sectors, particularly non-farm enterprises and agriculture, still face challenges such as reduced revenues, lower working hours, and the lingering effects of the crisis. The survey underscores the need for continued support and targeted interventions to ensure sustained recovery and address the long-term impacts of the EVD outbreak on the socio-economic landscape of Sierra Leone.