Assessing COVID-19's Effects on Gender-Related Issues Using a Phone Survey in the Feed the Future Zone of Influence in Bangladesh

The pandemic led to widespread income losses, affecting nearly 91% of households in the ZOI. Women's earnings were severely affected, with over half of women who had earned income pre-COVID experiencing a complete loss of income in April 2020. Despite a slight improvement in the subsequent months, one-third of women in the ZOI continued to face no income even five months after the outbreak. Women in the ZOI were primarily engaged in non-crop farming activities, such as livestock and poultry raising, which are typically conducted in close proximity to the household. The survey found that nearly half of surveyed women in the ZOI were engaged in one farming activity (48%), and 35% were engaged in two activities. However, women in the ZOI earned less than their spouses, with a nearly 50-50 split on control over earnings. While 46% of respondents controlled how their earnings were used, 44% had joint management with their spouse. The pandemic also had a significant impact on food and water security in the ZOI. The survey found that food insecurity increased significantly during the pandemic, with 45% of households experiencing moderate to severe food insecurity. Women in the ZOI reported worrying about not having enough water for all household needs, with 35% reporting that they had to worry about this issue. The pandemic also led to changes in behavior related to water, with 25% of respondents reporting that they had to collect water from a farther location. The pandemic also had a significant impact on women's empowerment in the ZOI. The survey found that women's caring hours increased significantly during the pandemic, with 45% of respondents reporting an increase in caring hours. Women's working hours also increased, with 35% of respondents reporting an increase in working hours. However, the pandemic also led to an increase in domestic conflict, with 40% of respondents reporting an increase in domestic conflict. The survey found that women in the ZOI were more likely to experience domestic conflict than men. The pandemic also led to an increase in intimate partner violence (IPV), with 25% of respondents reporting an increase in IPV. The survey also found that women in the ZOI were more likely to experience IPV than men. The survey results have significant policy implications for the Government of Bangladesh and other stakeholders. The findings highlight the need for targeted support to women in the ZOI, particularly in terms of income support and food and water security. The survey also highlights the need for policies to address domestic conflict and IPV, particularly in the context of the pandemic. The survey was conducted by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) as part of the Bangladesh Policy Research and Strategy Support Program (PRSSP). The survey was designed to capture the differential effects of COVID-19 on women in the ZOI during the first five months of the pandemic. The survey results provide valuable insights into the impact of the pandemic on women in the ZOI and highlight the need for targeted support to address the challenges faced by women during this period.