Income of female-led households significantly reduced amid COVID-19 pandemic – UNDP report

…Guyanese forced to use up savings, had no alternative source of income

The income generated by female-led households in Guyana dwindled significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic, as one in every five persons lost their income within the past year.
This was one of the key findings by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) during an assessment of the effects of the pandemic on the Guyanese populace.

Following the study, the findings were presented in a report. The final document was handed over to Prime Minister, Retired Brigadier Mark Phillips on Tuesday and it primarily focuses on the socio-economic impact facing Guyanese households during this pandemic.
The data was collected via telephone and face-to-face interviews using a sample of 1500 households across the country.
According to the findings, “Although household expenditure remained somewhat normal, income has been reduced significantly, especially among female-led households.”
Additionally, approximately 69 per cent of the respondents reported that they had no alternative sources of income and would prefer cash as their primary form of assistance. Around 52 per cent of the households interviewed said that they were forced to exhaust their savings.
To maintain food security, 37 per cent of respondents resorted to buying cheaper, less preferred brands, while approximately 25 per cent of persons said that they started growing their own vegetables. Apart from the loss of income, 35 per cent of persons surveyed suggested that they would place proper internet access among their priority areas of need.
Prime Minister Phillips has since noted that Government recognises the importance of sound, scientific data for informed decision-making and acknowledged that the data in the report reinforces the importance of its COVID-19 relief measures.
“We now have data which demonstrates the extent of income reduction at the household level and reinforces the importance of our Government’s COVID-19 relief programmes, such as the $25,000 cash grant and the distribution of food and sanitation hampers,” he relayed.
He added that as the Government continues to work with partners, such as the UNDP, to restore the country’s economy and social systems. “This socio-economic impact assessment will inform project and programme design, planning and implementation across all sectors so that resources will reach to the people most in need.”
UNDP Operations Coordinator, Navindra Persaud and Director General of the CDC, Lieutenant Colonel Kester Craig were present for the handing over while Deputy Regional Director in the Bureau for Latin America and the Caribbean, Linda Maguire and Resident Representative, Jairo Valverde joined virtually.
UN Resident Coordinator in Guyana Mikiko Tanaka in her virtual remarks agreed that the data in the report will be very useful for Guyana, especially on a long-term basis.
“I believe that it is really important that we have this evidence for Guyana that would help to adjust the response and a lot of nuances that can be looked into and drawn from in the recovery strategy and also the longer-term development agenda that this new Government has launched.”
To cushion the impacts of the pandemic, Government had started the distribution of the $25,000 per family cash grant last September to assist people. Some $4.5 billion was set aside for the relief programme.
Parliamentary Affairs and Governance Minister Gail Teixeira had outlined that while the Government’s initiative was bringing relief to the most vulnerable, it was also strengthening the economy.
“Every time a person gets money, they will spend it. Instead of giving the business community the money, we give the people the money. The people decide how to spend it and that money circulates in the economy, it allows the spending power of the people to be improved, business people to open up and buy more and rehire workers sent off because of COVID,” she had told residents of Mahaica Creek when the money was being disbursed.