High Frequent Data Collection: A Case Study of Bangladesh

Gaibandha District in Bangladesh

Project Objectives: 

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 the 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. 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.

Project Background: 

The project is working to improve the living standards of rural poor agricultural households who are 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, 2nd, 3rd and 4th 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. In January 2022, the 4th phase, the last phase, of the study has been 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.

Project Description:

1. Sample Size:  The total number of sample size is 180 households (HHs), 50% ultra-poor and 50% moderate-poor, in the Gaibandha District in Bangladesh.

2. Implementation of a follow-up survey: This bi-weekly survey is conducted in 6 villages. Of them, 3 from the Char areas and 3 from the river basin.

3. Process of data collection: The HHs have been either visited or contacted via mobile phones repeatedly twice per month from September 2021 to January 2022 for collecting the detailed bi-weekly consumption data and economic shocks HHs face during that period.

4. Duration of the project: February 2022.