A survey by the Mozambican National Institute of Statistics (INE) and the World Bank concludes that the covid-19 pandemic has reduced work opportunities for families in Mozambique's citiesmost of whom face food insecurity.

"About two-thirds of the respondents reported that they had not worked in the seven days prior to the survey," and of these "between 12% and 17% - about one-seventh - reported having worked prior to the [declaration of pandemic of] covid-19," reads the report of the Survey on the Impact of Covid-19 on Urban Households in Mozambique.

The data are in line with the results "of a business survey conducted during the same period [by the World Bank], which reports significant negative impacts," especially on small businesses - a 40% reduction in sales compared to the previous year, with an estimated 30% of businesses permanently closed.

In this context, at the level of consequences, the survey points to "food insecurity" as "a major concern for most urban households."

In the very first round of the survey, in June, "76% of households said they were worried about not having enough food, 60% reported missing a meal."

Asked about more severe forms of food insecurity, responses revealed that "54% were hungry but did not eat and 37% of households went without food for a whole day." 

Over the survey rounds through November, the percentage of respondents reporting the most severe forms of food insecurity fell slightly, according to the report's graphs - but those who "didn't eat for a whole day" were always above 20% and the rest above 40%.

"This demonstrates that many households are vulnerable to income reduction, which has a direct impact on food security and well-being. We do not know, however, the specific impact of confinement [to prevent covid-19], as we do not have a pre-covid baseline," the report notes.

The sources of household income have changed: the preponderance of agricultural, livestock, and fishing production has grown, even for urban households, the report highlights. 

"While in June 40% of households declared agriculture as their source of income, at the end of November the percentage was 50%," INE and BM detail.

However, "for the vast majority, the income level from agriculture has declined" - that is, while the agricultural sector may have absorbed some labor, "incomes have not been equivalent, and many households in urban areas continue to suffer from lower than pre-pandemic income levels."

The survey was based on telephone interviews with representatives of 1,185 households (5,938 individuals) between June and November 2020, representative of urban areas in the country's 11 provinces.

In the work-related questions, the sample was restricted to 741 households (approximately 3,300 individuals).

In the next phases of data collection, underway since April, INE is expanding the sample to include rural areas.

"It is important to note that the initial six rounds of the survey were conducted before the second wave of covid-19 in Mozambique, which had a much greater impact in terms of the number of cases and deaths," the document concludes.