Effects of COVID-19 on Regional and Gender Equality in Sub-Saharan Africa: Evidence from Nigeria and Ethiopia
June 18, 2021
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Summary
The labor structure in sub-Saharan Africa is characterized by a high share of informal employment in the rural agricultural sector. The impact of COVID-19 on female employment may not appear to be large as the share of such employment is particularly high among women. Nevertheless, widespread income reduction was observed both in rural and urban households. This could worsen the opportunities for women as husbands’ control over the household resource is the norm. The paper also finds that rural children struggled to continue learning during school closures. Gender-sensitive policies are needed to narrow the gap during and post-pandemic.
Subject: COVID-19, Education, Employment, Gender, Health, Income, Labor, National accounts, Women
Keywords: COVID-19, Employment, employment loss, family worker, gender-sensitive policy, Income, labor market structure, labor structure in sub-Saharan Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, West Africa, Women
Pages:
43
Volume:
2021
DOI:
Issue:
169
Series:
Working Paper No. 2021/169
Stock No:
WPIEA2021169
ISBN:
9781513583846
ISSN:
1018-5941
