COVID-19 Somali High-Frequency Phone Survey 2020, Round 1 (June 2020)

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and its effects on households create an urgent need for timely data and evidence to help monitor and mitigate the social and economic impacts of the crisis on the Somali people, especially the poor and most vulnerable. To monitor the socioeconomic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and inform policy responses and interventions, the World Bank as part of a global initiative designed and conducted a nationally representative COVID-19 Somali High-Frequency Phone Survey (SHFPS) of households. The survey covers important and relevant topics, including knowledge of COVID-19 and adoption of preventative behavior, economic activity and income sources, access to basic goods and services, exposure to shocks and coping mechanisms, and access to social assistance.

Round 1 of the COVID-19 SHFPS was implemented between June and July 2020. The survey interviewed 2,811 households (1,735 urban households, 611 rural households, 435 nomadic households, and 30 IDP households in settlements). The sample of 2,811 households was contacted using a random digit dialing protocol. The sample was designed to be representative at the national level and provide reliable and representative estimates for Jubaland, South West, HirShabelle, Galmudug, Puntland, and Somaliland (which self-declared independence in 1991), and Banadir, and by population type (urban, rural, IDPs in settlements, and nomads).

The Somali COVID-19 High-Frequency Phone Survey (SHFPS) of households covered the following topics:
- Household roster
- Knowledge regarding the spread of COVID-19
- Behavior and social distancing
- Concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic
- Access to basic goods and services
- Employment
- Income loss
- Remittances
- Shocks and coping mechanisms
- Food insecurity
- Social assistance and safety nets