FOOD-RELATED COPING STRATEGIES ADOPTED BY SOME HOUSEHOLDS DURING COVID-19 LOCKDOWN IN NIGERIA

As part of the measures to contain the spread of the COVID-19 virus in Nigeria during the early stages of the pandemic, a lockdown of movements within and from outside the country was declared by the federal government. This article presents findings on food-related coping strategies adopted during the COVID-19 lockdown in Nigeria. A cross sectional survey using an online based questionnaire received responses from 883 households regarding information on food consumption, health seeking behaviour and food coping strategies during the COVID-19 lockdown. Food Coping Strategy Index (FCSI) was computed from the data received based on standard methods. Analysis and presentation of data was done using descriptive and inferential statistics. The key findings show that daily mealtimes generally reduced from an average of 3 to 2 times. The storage capacity of households showed an average of 2-week food stock of staples, and most of the respondents had started reducing either their usual portion sizes or frequency of meals in order to cope with food shortages. As regards health seeking behavior, older respondents were more likely to take prophylactic medication (p<0.004) and there was a higher preference for fruits and Vitamin C as prophylactic items. A negative correlation between FCSI with mealtime during COVID-19 lockdown (p<0.000) and monthly income (p<0.000) was observed. The findings presented provide information for policy intervention in the areas of social safety nets and palliatives disbursement in the event of similar lockdown restrictions in the future.

Internal Migration and the Covid-19 Pandemic in India

This chapter looks at the effect of the Covid-19 pandemic on internal migrants in India. According to the 2011 Census, there are over 450 million internal migrants, of which a massive 54 million are inter-state migrants. A large number of these migrants consist of labourers who comprise a huge percentage of the informal sector workforce, both in the rural and urban areas of India, and are vital to the country’s economy. These workers are also some of the most vulnerable, with inadequacies in terms of working conditions and coverage of social safety nets, and are also largely absent from India’s policy discourses. This chapter highlights the size and extent of internal migration as well as its distribution across different states in India. It shows how the current crisis and lockdowns have affected their lives and livelihoods. It particularly looks at the responses of central and various state governments – at destinations and origins – to ensure migrants’ wellbeing. It also analyses the socioeconomic impact of the migrant exodus from major destinations and looks at solutions to enable and ensure that migration patterns in the future are sustainable, and more importantly, ensure migrants’ rights and dignity.

Preparing for COVID-19: Household food insecurity and vulnerability to shocks in Nairobi, Kenya

An understanding of the types of shocks that disrupt and negatively impact urban household food security is of critical importance to develop relevant and targeted food security emergency preparedness policies and responses, a fact magnified by the current COVID-19 pandemic. This gap is addressed by the current study which draws from the Hungry Cities Partnership (HCP) city-wide household food insecurity survey of Nairobi city in Kenya. It uses both descriptive statistics and multilevel modelling using General Linear Mixed Models (GLMM) to examine the relationship between household food security and 16 different shocks experienced in the six months prior to the administration of the survey. The findings showed that only 29% of surveyed households were completely food secure. Of those experiencing some level of food insecurity, more experienced economic (55%) than sociopolitical (16%) and biophysical (10%) shocks. Economic shocks such as food price increases, loss of employment, and reduced income were all associated with increased food insecurity. Coupled with the lack of functioning social safety nets in Nairobi, households experiencing shocks and emergencies experience serious food insecurity and related health effects. In this context, the COVID-19 pandemic is likely to have a major negative economic impact on many vulnerable urban households. As such, there is need for new policies on urban food emergencies with a clear emergency preparedness plan for responding to major economic and other shocks that target the most vulnerable.

Social Safety Nets and Sustainable Development in Fragile Environments: A Field Social Study of Slums in the City of Baghdad/Al-Karkh

Almost human societies are not void of poverty, as the latter accompanied the emergence of humanity, and it, thus, represents an eternal problem. To advance an individual's reality and raise the level of the poor social classes, social security networks have been established. Such networks operate in society following social systems and laws to provide food, and material support. Besides, such networks help to rehabilitate the individual academically and vocationally. They empower vulnerable groups through the establishment of courses and workshop, provide (conditional) subsidies related to the health and educational aspects in order to achieve the sustainable development goals of (2030), and apply developmental roles of social safety nets that target the needy and poor groups living in slums, especially in the city of Baghdad. They further stand on the humanitarian and social conditions experienced by the residents of those areas. the study also examines the role of both formal and informal organizations in achieving sustainable development goals. The data of the study involves five complexes in Baghdad, specifically Al- Karkh side; these include the following: (Mu'amel Al-Masdar Complex, Al-Rahman Complex, Noor Complex), Al-Huda, Al-Raja’ Complex, and Al-Noor Village Complex). That is, the number of families was 250; 50 from each complex. A statistical program (SPSS) and scientific tools have been used to collect the data, such as observational questionnaire, interview, and groups focal point. The study has revealed that most of the respondents received food aids from different parties at a rate of (64.80%), especially during the crises that the country witnessed. The vast majority of the respondents, (1-87%), who benefited from the social assistance, do not have an alternative financial source.

Ageing in Zimbabwe: Reflections 41 Years After Independence

While Zimbabwe shares similar characteristics with other sub-Saharan countries that are generally regarded as ‘young populations’ the percentage of older adults has increased from 4,7% in 1982 to 6% in 2017. Research on ageing is mainly on social protection, health and quality of life. Emerging research points towards healthy ageing, gender relations and access to resources. The economic environment has been unstable for the greater part of the 41 years of independence. Poverty is increasing and the lives of older adults are vulnerable owing to inadequate and poorly targeted and funded social safety nets and social care services. The framework for addressing ageing in the country is adequate but implementation is lacking. Zimbabwe lacks longitudinal datasets on ageing; researchers mostly rely on data produced by Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZIMSTAT), United Nations agencies and other International non-governmental organisations.

Transforming public finance under the impact of COVID-19

Devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic throughout the world enhance the societal requests for effective healthcare and social protection systems, modern education, and high-quality infrastructure. In Ukraine, education, healthcare, and social services have been chronically deteriorating, and the corona-crisis has further exacerbated their state and increased poverty in the country. The aim of this study is to reveal the main weaknesses of fiscal policy in Ukraine and to outline the prospects of public finance transformations under the impact of the COVID-19. To achieve this aim, the indicators of fiscal policy response to the pandemic in Ukraine are calculated and a comparative analysis of Ukraine’s public finance structure with the international patterns is undertaken. A moderate fiscal impulse and insufficient fiscal rescue package in Ukraine are shown. Moreover, the inconsistencies of anti-crisis fiscal policy instruments with the international best practice are revealed. Summarizing the available theoretical sources and recent applied research allows identifying the prospects of public finances transformations under the impact of the COVID-19 in a global context. Along with the obtained results of Ukraine’s fiscal sector analysis, these form the basis for shaping the fiscal policy response in Ukraine over the medium term. Proposals for public financing of Ukraine’s health care and educational sectors, of the social safety nets and infrastructures under the impact of the pandemic are developed. Offsetting measures from the expenditure and revenue sides of the budget are drawn up for closing the arising fiscal gaps.

Forecasting the Inequality of Income Distribution in Consequence of the Covid-19 Pandemic

This study aims to forecasting the Covid-19 Pandemic's effect on income inequality distribution in Kulon-Progo Regency during of 2020 to 2028. The study analysis tools utilized forecast are linear and non-linear trend. The historical data use during of 2010 to 2019, data source obtained from Central Bureau of Statistics Yogyakarta in statistical series book of 2020. The findings of forecast result show that the Covid-19 pandemic directly impact on the increased income inequality distribution. The implication is to carry out the process of economic recovery due to the Covid-19 pandemic case by identifying community groups who are vulnerable to decreased income through strengthening social safety nets. In addition, government policies can also optimize the utilization and transportation services to increase farmer exchange rates, because most people work in the agricultural sector.