Ebola in Liberia:

Impact on Food Security

and Livelihoods

March 2015

CONTENT

Introduction 2

Background 2

Livelihoods most affected by Ebola 2-4

Impacts on Food Security 5

Summary of Key Findings 6

Recommendations 6

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CONTACT

The Ebola crisis has put the food and livelihood security of the Liberian population under insurmountable stress. This report, in accordance with a rapid assessment, is based on the experiences of affected communities, specifically in relation to the crisis’ impact on income and physical and economic access to food. As infection rates continue to decline in Liberia and awareness of the impacts of the Ebola crisis on livelihoods and food and nutrition security increases, it is vital that stakeholders turn attention towards what Liberians may be facing in the aftermath of the crisis.

Introduction

Background The 2014 outbreak of Ebola has affected nearly the whole West Africa region, slowing down the recently growing momentum of the region’s economic prospects. It has become increasingly clear that the impact of Ebola goes well beyond health, in terms of morbidity and mortality, and that livelihoods have been and will continue to be affected for many months to come.

Government revenues have decreased, while the need to spend precious financial resources to address the health-side of the crisis remains; leaving other sectors with fewer resources to deal with the knock on effects of the Ebola crisis.

Following a decrease in the rate of new infections countrywide, on 12 November 2014 the Government of Liberia lifted the state of emergency and ended the suspension on weekly markets, though quarantines remained on highly affected counties. Nonetheless, many schools remain closed, though some are slowly reopening as of March 20151, and many private and public institution workers who were sent home as part of measures to suppress the spread of the Ebola virus are yet to resume their work.

In urban areas, the flow of commodities in the quarantined communities was heavily restricted and traders have limited access to some of the quarantined areas.

In some cases, makeshift markets were created in and around the quarantined perimeter. For rural areas, entire communities that reported cases of Ebola were stigmatised and transactions with other areas were limited out of fear of disease transmission. The cost of transportation also rose - constituting an additional barrier to trade.

As the World Bank reports2; the largest economic effects of the crisis have not been direct costs related to mortality, morbidity, caregiving, and the associated losses in working days, but those resulting from changes in behaviour, either as part of government-imposed aversion measures or driven by fear. These adopted behaviours have resulted in a pervasive drop in employment, income, and demand for goods and services.

This situation is placing additional pressure on the livelihoods and food security of this already food-insecure country, with one-third of the approximately 4 million citizens undernourished and over 75% living below the universally established poverty line of $1.25 per day.

In this regard, the impact of the Ebola crisis in Liberia could undermine many of Liberia’s hard-earned progress towards the achievements of the Millennium Development Goals, particularly on poverty, food security and child and maternal health.

Livelihoods most affected by Ebola Livelihoods come in many shapes and forms, but they are a vital means of making a living. It encompasses people’s capabilities, assets, income and activities required to secure the necessities of life. However, the shocks and stresses of the recent Ebola crisis in Liberia has not only diminished the well-being and livelihoods of people, but also undermined the social fabric, the market and food security on which life depends.

The recommendations in this report are based on the needs and experiences of the Liberian community. Petty trading, wage labour and agriculture have been the most affected livelihoods by the Ebola crisis3.

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The vast majority of Liberian workers are informally employed. The nature of informal employment varies significantly, but they are generally performed for cash-in-hand payments or in exchange for other non-monetary goods.

Prior to the Ebola crisis there was very minimal legal protection for employees within the private sector, and job security has become even more uncertain in the wake of the Ebola crisis. Particularly those residing in Ebola hotspots found themselves more vulnerable to losing their jobs, without any compensation and no option for recourse due to general fears related to the

spread of disease- and stigmatization. Others, who worked night shifts, had difficulties reaching their workplace while the curfew was in place.

Even those in formal employment have been affected. The education sector has been hit particularly hard. As results of the closure of schools many teachers lost their jobs.

The restriction on private home-based instruction, as part of the Ebola aversion measures, has put an additional strain on teachers to supplement their income until schools reopen.

Wage Labour

Petty trading is a means of earning money with the sale of small inexpensive items. While upper-income traders have traditionally acquired significant levels of capital from commerce, the restricted access to agricultural land and limited opportunities for lucrative wage employment—due to Ebola aversion measures—has contributed to the rapid generation of less remunerative forms of petty trade, particularly among a large population of unemployed and underemployed Liberians.

The general economic slowdown and infection aversion measures put into place last year has caused petty trading to decline. Prices for some products have severely increased; while the customer base has dramatically declined, with the few remaining customers spending less. Turnover rates are consequently much lower, and goods are taking much longer to sell, which is forcing petty traders to hold on to stock for longer periods of time.

In an attempt to cope with the diminishing profits many petty traders, particularly food traders, have resorted to using up their entire financial reserves to keep their businesses afloat. With limited options to recoup these financial reserves, through credit or loan facilities for example, many families are at risk of falling deeper into poverty.

The wider ramifications of the Ebola crisis and aversion measures - in regards to the increase in transportation costs (reportedly 40-45%), the stigmatization of entire communities that have had Ebola-infected members, the movement restrictions of people and goods, and even the loss of buyers due to some people moving out of the community - have all impeded the ability for workers to conduct petty trade.

Petty traders have raised concerns that it could take between 6 and 12 months for vendors to recover from debts and rebuild business capital.

Petty Trading

Almost all livelihood areas have been impacted by the change in the market – predominantly the result of the measures put in place by the Government of Liberia in order to reduce the risk of Ebola transmission. Quarantines, road blocks, and the shutting of markets have almost universally inflated market prices, led to a reduction in the quantities of some market items, as well as leading to a significant decrease in the number of customers and the volumes they purchase, due to serious declines in purchasing power.

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Other affected livelihoods

Casual labour Today, a vast majority of particularly young Liberians perform low-paying, informal work on a temporary, irregular basis with little security or opportunity for escaping poverty5.

With the general economic decline and lower cash flows for non-essential goods and services due to the Ebola crisis, the demand for casual labour has declined significantly, which many of the most vulnerable to food insecurity and poverty depend on as their primary income source. For example, the reduction in the volume of imported goods has led to a significant decline in the demand for casual labourers to offload goods. The situation is similar for those casual workers stationed at strategic markets waiting to load and offload container trucks.

There has also been an increase in the numbers of skilled workers, who have to turn to casual labour due to a lack of other employment opportunities, thereby creating more less demand for casual labour opportunities.

Fishing As a result of the curfew and quarantine measures many young men who normally work on large fishing boats lost their primary form of livelihood and employment when the state of emergency was called. Along with the reduction in fishing activities, there was a concomitant reduction in the volume of catch.

This had knock on effects on related activities, such

as offloading, processing and vending of fish.

Livestock production, by comparison, has been relatively less affected and for the most part was not deemed to be among the most affected livelihoods in the communities consulted in this assessment.

Besides the above-mentioned livelihoods, since the general economic decline has reduced the number of customers and their ability to pay, and the fear of an Ebola infection has led to stigmatization and marginalization among the Liberian population, also

other groups, such as market cook shop women,

hairdressers and taxi drivers are significantly affected by the crisis.

The ban on the sale and consumption of bush meat, as an Ebola aversion measure, has forced cook shops to stop including this relatively cheap form of protein and include more costly meat (usually in lower quantities). However, the general public is increasingly wary of cook shops out of fear that they secretly continue to mix in bush meat.

Furthermore, street hairdressers are scared of Ebola transmission owing to the personal contact required of the job.

Similarly, the ban on the number of people permitted in a car taxi and motorcycle taxi has meant that taxi drivers have both increased the per passenger cost and have taken a hit to their overall income. Additionally, as a result of the greater cost per trip per passenger there are fewer passengers than before.

Agriculture The agricultural sector accounts for approximately half of Liberia’s gross domestic product (GDP) and the majority of Liberians – approximately 80% - depend on agriculture for their livelihoods. Smallholder agriculture is a particularly critical source of income for women, who comprise over half of the agriculture labour force in Liberia and about two-thirds of the labour force in trade and commerce4.

In the wake of the Ebola crisis, the most significant impact on agricultural livelihoods has been the loss of buyers rather than on agricultural production, resulting in the loss of perishable products and incomes for farmers.

1. First, the movement restrictions prevented middlemen from coming to the farms, but also prevented farmers from venturing out to seek buyers for their products.

2. Second, some farmers had to reduce the size of the field they are cultivating in response to the decline in the market for their products.

3. And third, farmers are less inclined to exert themselves in the fields and working as a group out of increased fears of getting ill, either with Ebola or another disease which could be confused with Ebola.

This change in behaviour combined with lower sales figures risks making it more difficult for farmers to buy seeds and cultivate their crops for the next harvest season.

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Purchasing Power for Food Food insecurity and poverty are highly correlated. Household spend a large proportion of their income on food. The national average of income spent on food is around 53%, but some areas it is as high as 70%7. Many households’ food security is highly vulnerable to income shocks as they have very little buffer when their purchasing power is eroded.

The outbreak of the Ebola crisis, particularly the behavioural changes in the Liberian population, has had serious impacts on the livelihoods of households. Panic, fear, restrictions and risk aversion behaviours have resulted in a pervasive drop in employment, income, foreign investment and demand for goods and services, ultimately impacting the purchasing power of households.

As a result, many households have difficulties meeting food needs with the majority of people depending on cheaper and less nutritious food - such as cassava instead of protein and vegetables - but also reducing the number of meals, limiting the portion size of meals and sometimes borrowing food or money for food.

Without a rebound in employment or some social protection intervention from the government they are becoming even more food insecure.

Dependency on NGOs Since thousands of people can no longer afford the increased prices for food and goods, the wider Liberian population depends extensively on NGOs for food, nutrition and hygiene services. However, access to these services has been irregular. While communities have been receiving emergency

food aid such as rice, beans and oil from the World Food Programme (WFP), and other non-food items (NFIs) from various NGOs, there are still pervasive problems with some communities being able to access clean water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) programmes. The lack of latrines and hand pumps for safe water present a major risk in for slowing down post-Ebola recovery and worsening food and nutrition insecurity.

Children, with underdeveloped immune systems, are particularly susceptible to disease spread by contaminated water and poor hygiene practices. Waterborne diseases can lead to illness, such as diarrhoea, which can hinder the absorption of vitally important nutrients and vitamins—making them even more susceptible to malnutrition.

Future Food Crisis The outbreak of Ebola has caused a significant shock to the food and agriculture sector in Liberia. The rapid growth in the spread of Ebola coincided with the crop-growing and harvesting period in the country. Particularly labour shortages have marred farming operations such as planting and weeding, while movement restrictions and fear of the disease have disrupted agricultural market chains. The situation also comes at a time when more food needs to be imported to Liberia, but revenues derived from export commodities are affected.

Along with the reduction in fishing activities and the cultivation of crops for the next harvest season, food security in Liberia is in severe jeopardy. Already now, an estimated 300,000 people in Liberia are severely food insecure because of the impact of Ebola8.

Impacts on Food Security Food security exists “when all people at all times have access to sufficient, safe, nutritious food to maintain a healthy and active life”6. The availability and ability to access food has diminished in some areas of Liberia as a consequence of the aversion measures and changes in behaviour in response to the Ebola crisis.

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Summary of Key Findings

Recommendations

The Ebola crisis has also become a livelihood and food security crisis, affecting wide sections of the Liberian population.

The three most affected livelihood groups, according to affected communities are 1) petty trading 2) wage labor, and 3) agriculture.

Ebola aversion measures (quarantine, road blocks, and curfew) have had the most significant impact on livelihoods and food security.

A general economic slowdown, along with Ebola-related fears and other changes in behaviour have had a significant impact on the income earning potential of the most vulnerable households.

The purchasing power of consumers has declined and market activity has stagnated.

Vendors have been particularly affected by a lack of customers, increased cost of

transportation, and the disruption in marketing due to the market closure ordered by the Government of Liberia.

Little has been provided to assist communities to recover economically from the shock of the Ebola epidemic. They need micro-loans in order to revive their livelihood activities.

External assistance provided to communities has focused on Ebola-related hygiene items such as buckets, chlorine and soap.

WASH community programmes, particularly in regards to latrines and safe drinking water are still lacking in the country – slowing down post-Ebola crisis recovery.

There is a shift towards consuming less expensive, less nutritious food and limiting on dietary diversity.

The Ebola crisis coincides with the crop-growing and harvesting period in the country, leading to a potential food crisis in 2015.

All key stakeholders — including NGOs and donors — must focus their response to both emergency and early recovery.

1. Inject cash into communities to recover food consumption, market activity and incomes of market traders.

2. Improve access to micro loans in the community by providing financial and technical support to grassroots savings and loan groups.

3. Integrate livelihood-based responses to improve WASH outcomes, Ebola preparedness, household health and nutrition promotion.

4. Ensure sufficient level of community involvement and contribution to any intervention, in line with the ability and capacity of the target population.

5. Any future intervention should not target only communities that had cases of Ebola but other areas that were known to be highly vulnerable to food and nutrition security before the crisis.

6. Support with agriculture extension and inputs to mitigate possibility of food shortage.

7. Increase options for alternatives to the consumption of bush meat, both as a source of protein and as a livelihood.

8. Ensure that any emergency intervention does not undermine medium and long-term development goals, or stimulate intra-community tensions.

9. Ensure that any intervention is well coordinated with the Government of Liberia’s social safety net strategy and supports county governments to set up Ebola risk management strategies.

Unless access to food is drastically improved and measures are put in place to revive agriculture and safeguard crop production and fishing activities to maintain Liberia’s livelihoods and food security, a food crisis with severe and long-lasting impacts on Liberian livelihoods is imminent.

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1. The Socio-Economic Impacts of Ebola in

Liberia, Results from a High Frequency Cell

Phone Survey: Round, The World Bank Group,

February 2015

2. The Economic Impact of the 2014 Ebola

Epidemic: Short and Medium Term Estimates

for West Africa, The World Bank Group,

October 7, 2014

3. Rapid Food and Livelihoods Security

Assessment, ACF International & Welt Hunger

Hilfe, December 2014

4. Gender-Aware Programs and Women’s Roles in

Agricultural Value Chains, World Bank, 2010

5. Liberia’s Cash For Work Temporary

Employment Project: Responding to Crisis in

Low Income, Fragile Countries; July 2011

NO.1114 http://siteresources.worldbank.org/

SOCIALPROTECTION/Resources/SP-Discussion-

papers/Safety-Nets-DP/1114.pdf

6. WHO, Food Security http://www.who.int/

trade/glossary/story028/en/

7. Liberia Comprehensive Food Security and

Nutrition Survey (CFSNS) June 2013 http://

foodsecuritycluster.net/sites/default/files/

CFSNS-FINAL_Liberia-2013.pdf

8. FAO, Ebola leaves hundreds of thousands

facing hunger in three worst-hit countries,

December 2014 http://www.fao.org/news/

story/en/item/272678/icode/

ENDNOTES

Action Against Hunger UK First Floor, Rear Premises, 161-163 Greenwich High Road, London, SE10 8JA Tel. +44 (0)20 8293 6190 Fax. +44 208 858 8372 Email: support@actionagainsthunger.org.uk Web: www.actionagainsthunger.org.uk

CONTACT PHOTO CREDITS Cover: UNMEER, Operation Stop Ebola!! in Paynesville,

Liberia, January 2015

Page 1: Ken Harper, liberia-by-ken-harper-together-liberia-project.jpg-4 , June 2011

Page 3: Mark Fischer, Metro Business Center Liberia, March 2014

Page 4: UNMEER, Operation Stop Ebola!! in Paynesville, Liberia, January 2015

Page 5: DFID, Children pictured at a UNCHR food distribution point in Liberia, March 2011

Page 6: Mark Fischer, Waterside Stores Liberia, February 2014