Endris Getachew Shambel, Wordofa Muluken Gezahegn, Aweke Chanyalew Seyoum, Hassen Jemal Yousuf, Hussein Jeylan Wolyie, Ebrahim Awol Seid, Hashim Hakim, Ahmed Elyas, Okoyo Eric Ndemo
Rural Development and Innovation studies Haramaya University, Ethiopia.
Insituions, Innovation systems, and Economic Development, Haramaya University, Ethiopia.
Sci Afr. 2022 Jul;16:e01258. doi: 10.1016/j.sciaf.2022.e01258. Epub 2022 Jun 23.
Physical distancing and mobility restriction measures are used as central components of the COVID 19 response globally. In Ethiopia, the measures have been implemented against a complex social structure wherein social support practices (in the form of social capital) and daily social interactions are embedded. However, the mechanism of how such measures interact with various social capital practices and shape household access to various types of resources during the pandemic are less understood. This study examined the way the COVID-19 pandemic and protective measures shaped smallholder farmers' access to social capital for mobilizing resources during the pandemic. A total of 176 households were randomly selected for the quantitative survey. In addition, 25 key informant interviews were collected. Results show that prolonged physical distancing and mobility restrictions imposed to control the health impact of the pandemic have disrupted normal patterns of social interactions and resource sharing between households. The imposed measures significantly decreased households' access to food, information, credit/loan, labor, psychological support, and agricultural inputs and extension services. The study strongly suggests that the public health measure imposed for the COVID-19 prevention and control affect the proper functioning of a society's social capital framework, thereby, reducing poor households' ability to deal with socioeconomic crises and uncertainties. This implies that ongoing as well as future responses to the pandemic should adapt and integrate crisis management measures with the local risk-sharing mechanisms such as indigenous mutual support frameworks and processes. Harnessing inclusive social protection programs and building strong rural financial infrastructure and agricultural service delivery can help vulnerable households cope with shocks, improve the effectiveness of pandemic responses and facilitate post-crisis recovery.
物理距离和行动限制措施是全球应对新冠疫情的核心组成部分。在埃塞俄比亚，这些措施是在一个复杂的社会结构背景下实施的，社会支持实践（以社会资本的形式）和日常社会互动都融入其中。然而，人们对这些措施如何与各种社会资本实践相互作用，以及在疫情期间如何影响家庭获取各类资源的机制了解较少。本研究考察了新冠疫情及防护措施如何影响小农户在疫情期间获取社会资本以调动资源的方式。总共随机选取了176户家庭进行定量调查。此外，还收集了25份关键 informant访谈。结果表明，为控制疫情对健康的影响而实施的长期物理距离和行动限制扰乱了家庭之间正常的社会互动和资源共享模式。这些措施显著减少了家庭获取食物、信息、信贷/贷款、劳动力、心理支持以及农业投入和推广服务的机会。该研究强烈表明，为防控新冠疫情而实施的公共卫生措施影响了社会的社会资本框架的正常运作，从而降低了贫困家庭应对社会经济危机和不确定性的能力。这意味着，当前及未来对疫情的应对措施应进行调整，并将危机管理措施与当地的风险分担机制（如本土互助框架和流程）相结合。利用包容性社会保护计划，建立强大的农村金融基础设施和农业服务提供体系，有助于脆弱家庭应对冲击，提高疫情应对的有效性，并促进危机后的恢复。
