Socioeconomic inequalities in household resilience capacity in the context of COVID-19 in the fisheries sector in Malawi

Abstract

ABSTRACT Malawi relies on fish as a source of protein, and the fisheries sector employs many individuals. The COVID-19 shock has affected the fisheries sector. The current study measured household resilience in the fisheries sector. We collected primary data from 405 respondents. We used TANGO International's resilience capacity indices (RCI) and concentration indices (CI) to measure resilience and assess the inequality in the household resilience among fish value chain actors, respectively. Our findings show that the lowest average resilience capacities index (RCI = 31.14; p < 0.001) was among households in the lowest income quintile, and the highest resilience capacities index (RCI = 59.74; p <0.001) among the highest wealth category. Regarding inequality in resilience, an overall positive concentration index (CI = 0.12; p <0.001) was found. This means that wealthier households are likely to be more resilient than less wealthy households. In terms of policy, the government may consider extending the urban COVID-19 cash transfers to poor households in fishing communities.