The National Institute of Statistics, in partnership with the Ministry of Economy, Planning and Regional Development (MINEPAT) and the Ministry of Finance (MINFI) launched last April, phase 1 of the survey to assess the socio-economic effects of Covid 19. Indeed, this study conducted among companies and households mainly aims to assess the immediate consequences of the health crisis that Cameroon has been going through since March 6, 2020. Data are collected from the population with a view to helping the Government take short- and medium-term social and economic support measures, as well as to enhance the effectiveness of the measures already taken to stem the spread of the disease in the country.
The survey is led by the General Directorate of the INS and the Directorate General of the Economy and Public Investment Programming (DGEPIP). The Business component, which targets formal and informal production units active in the economic territory, is carried out by the Department of Business Statistics on the one hand, and the Households component is carried out by the Department of Demographic and Social Statistics on the other hand. Data collection by telephone is carried out by collection staff previously trained by the Institute. The survey is divided into four stages, including the design and development of collection tools, the theoretical and practical training of interviewers, the collection itself, and the exploitation and analysis of the results.
Specifically, it is a question of identifying the channels of transmission of the economic and social impacts of the epidemic on the labor market, incomes, employment, living conditions of the populations, etc. Then to identify the sectors of activity affected, in particular health, transport, companies, trade, etc. to analyze the direct consequences. Further, it is a question of estimating the impact of Covid 19 on the living conditions of households, i.e. costs and expenses, loss of income, mobility and poverty. Finally, the Survey assesses the possible effects on the State Budget and the implications in terms of social spending, in order to put in place protective measures and preserve the social and economic balance.
Ache Goygoy