A study of the economic impact of the Ebola crisis on Monrovians living on US$1 a day or less

This study is intended to contribute to the broader work of the IGC in Liberia by providing in-depth information on the challenges faced by the poorest sector of society in the context of the Ebola crisis. Those living on US$1 a day or less make up one of the largest sectors of the urban population, and their poverty represents a major constraint to broader growth in the country. This study will deepen existing understanding of daily realities for this most vulnerable sector and the coping mechanisms they adopt, as well as how they have been affected by the Ebola crisis. This will help to inform possible policy interventions in the aftermath of this crisis.

The research aims to explore the socio-economic impacts of the Ebola crisis on the poorest urban Liberians, defined as those living on US$1/day or less. The main objectives are three-fold:

1. To investigate the ways in which Monrovians living on US$1 a day or less have been affected by the Ebola crisis.
2. To undertake in-depth analysis of these impacts, focusing on livelihood strategies and coping mechanisms adopted during the height of the Ebola crisis and its aftermath.
3. To disseminate the findings to relevant stakeholders in order to inform policy strategy and action as the crisis continues and in its aftermath, by identifying those areas in which support is most needed.

The study will use both quantitative and qualitative methods to understand livelihood strategies and consumption patterns of the target groups and how these have been affected by the Ebola crisis. This data collection will be carried out in two communities, Banjor and Jallah Town, the former which has been badly affected by Ebola, and the latter less so. Both of these communities include large numbers of deprived households, one in the more urban setting of central Monrovia and the other in a more sub-urban area.

The study will draw on existing relevant research including that collected by LISGIS (Liberia Institute of Statistics & Geo-Information Services Statistics) and other UN, ILO and World Bank sources.