“Surveillance of People’s Livelihoods Before and After COVID-19: A Case Study of Bangladesh” delves into the impact of the pandemic on the livelihoods of individuals in Bangladesh. This comprehensive study explores how people’s lives and economic activities have been affected by the COVID-19 crisis, both before and in the aftermath of the pandemic.
The article examines the surveillance of livelihoods, focusing on key indicators such as income levels, employment patterns, access to resources, and changes in consumption patterns. It analyzes the disparities and vulnerabilities exposed by the crisis, particularly among marginalized communities and vulnerable populations.
The study highlights the challenges faced by individuals and households, including job losses, reduced income, disrupted supply chains, and limited access to essential services. It also investigates the coping strategies and resilience demonstrated by communities in the face of these challenges.
By conducting this case study, researchers aim to provide valuable insights into the broader socioeconomic impacts of the pandemic and contribute to evidence-based policy-making and intervention strategies. The findings shed light on the specific needs of the affected populations and inform targeted initiatives to support livelihoods, promote economic recovery, and build resilience in Bangladesh.
Understanding the surveillance of people’s livelihoods before and after COVID-19 is crucial for developing effective strategies that address the immediate and long-term impacts of the crisis. This study serves as a valuable resource for policymakers, researchers, and organizations seeking to mitigate the socioeconomic consequences of the pandemic and foster sustainable development in Bangladesh.
Funding Authority: National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS), Japan
Project Investigators
- Dr. Kazusi Takahasi, Sophia University, Japan.
- Dr. Abu S, Shonchoy, Florida International University, U.SA.
Project Duration: 6 Months
Project Period: September 2021 to February 2022
Although the COVID-19 pandemic has created unprecedented difficulties for human life around the world, the situation is much more severe in developing countries including Bangladesh. As the world continues to grapple with the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, the changes and variations in the living standards of poor people have been exacerbated since the onset of pre-and post-COVID-19 observation, especially those living on the banks of the river.
The objective of this study is to provide ideas to the policymakers, various donor groups, and foreign non-governmental organizations on the impact of year-on-year risks on the livelihoods of the poor people living in char areas. Another aim is to audit the use of consumer goods during the manga season so that people can save a portion of their income and get a double incentive during the manga season so that it can be equal to or closer to other times. Based on the data collected for this study, policymakers and researchers will determine new tasks that will help them overcome the vicious cycle of poverty.
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MOMODa FOUNDATION, as a research-oriented development organization, has been carrying out action research projects in association with the world’s renowned institutions since 2011, with a vision of making the world a better place for all in which people irrespective of cast, creed, sex, color, and religion could live in a society with reduced poverty and inequality.
AN OVERVIEW OF THE PROJECT
Specific components of the project are:
- Sample Size: 180 households (HHs), 50% ultra-poor and 50% moderate-poor, in the Gaibandha district in Bangladesh.
- Implementation of a follow-up survey: This bi-weekly survey is conducted in 6 villages. Of them, 3 from Char areas and 3 from the river basin.
- Process of data collection: The HHs have been either visited or contacted via mobile phones repeatedly twice per month since September 2021. This will continue up to January 2022 to collect the detailed bi-weekly consumption data and economic shocks HHs face during that period.
- Duration of the project: February 2022.
A team of researchers has launched a research project to assess the poverty and vulnerability of the poorest people in rural Bangladesh. The project is being implemented through the MOMODa FOUNDATION. The project is working to improve the living standards of rural poor agricultural households that arethat at risk of local survival due to seasonal hunger. To understand how their lives are changing, household data were collected twice a month in the 1st and 2nd phases of the HFDC project.
Through more frequent data collection, this study seeks to understand more about how the changes in their income affect their consumption patterns. Moreover, this study observes how they deal with poverty during drought and flood seasons, and what steps they take at that time. Currently, the 3rd phase of the study is being conducted which includes a follow-up survey to collect data from the same household previously surveyed to capture the changes in their lifestyle due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The MOMODa FOUNDATION has been conducting research on the livelihood and risks of Char dwellers throughout the year. It is expected that the data collected in this research project and the scale-up of the subsequent project will help researchers and policymakers design possible interventions to help Char dwellers to escape from the vicious cycle of poverty.