COVID-19 emergency income grant and food security in Namibia

COVID-19 emergency income grant and food security in Namibia

Orkoh, E., Hasholo, E.N., Sackey, F.G., Asravor, R.K.

This paper evaluates the effects of the government's COVID-19 economic stimulus and relief package (emergency/one-off income grant of ND750) on household food security in Namibia during the period of the lockdown. The analysis reveals that a household that received the income grant ($42 equivalent) experienced about 11%−17% reduction in food insecurity compared to their non-recipient counterparts. We also found that the effect was relatively higher in female-headed households than in male-headed households. The positive effect is supported by a higher proportion (53%) of the beneficiary households who were satisfied with the policy. These findings underscore the need for the government of Namibia to institutionalise and sustain the income grant policy as a safety net and extend it to cover other vulnerable households in the post-pandemic. Such a programme should be gender-responsive and targeted at household heads who make decision over food consumption and other household arrangements for a bigger impact.

Routledge, Taylor & Francis

2023

https://scholar.google.com/citations?view_op=view_citation&hl=en&user=dzxWX-AAAAAJ&cstart=20&pagesize=80&citation_for_view=dzxWX-AAAAAJ:r0BpntZqJG4C

English