Socio-economic impacts of COVID-19
Ethiopia
Highlights
The current COVID-19 crisis is challenging the delivery of essential services to the most affected segments of the population. Children and families who are already vulnerable due to socio-economic exclusion or those who live in overcrowded settings are particularly at risk. Children may be disproportionately affected by measures taken to control the outbreak, such as school closures and physical distancing measures. Special attention needs to be paid to prevent and minimize negative consequences for children as much as possible. If exceptional measures are not taken, we will observe at the worsening of monetary and multidimensional child poverty with a potential regression of the development objectives’ gains the country has so far achieved. Furthermore, the advances towards the achievement of SDGs will be jeopardised. Global estimates suggest that a 1 percent lower growth in the global economy would translate to between 14 million and 22 million more people living in extreme poverty.1 The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa has estimated that due to the COVID-19 crisis 48 percent fewer people could be lifted out of poverty in the continent.
