Socioeconomic Impacts of COVID-19 in Kenya on Firms : Rapid Response Phone Survey, Round 1
The COVID-19 pandemic has severe impacts on the Kenyan economy and society as a whole. This report analyzes the impact of COVID-19 on businesses in Kenya based on a nationally representative Business Pulse Survey implemented by the World Bank betwe...
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| Format: | Report |
| Language: | English |
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World Bank, Washington, DC
2021
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| Online Access: | http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/532861613625822308/Socioeconomic-Impacts-of-COVID-19-in-Kenya-on-Firms-Rapid-Response-Phone-Survey-Round-One http://hdl.handle.net/10986/35172 |
| Summary: | The COVID-19 pandemic has severe impacts
on the Kenyan economy and society as a whole. This report
analyzes the impact of COVID-19 on businesses in Kenya based
on a nationally representative Business Pulse Survey
implemented by the World Bank between June and August, 2020.
The results indicate that about 93 percent of firms
experienced a decline of sales compared to the same period
of the previous year. Sales dropped by around 50 percent in
the average and median Kenyan firms, and by more than 70
percent for one-quarter of firms. Close to 65 percent of
firms are experiencing a decline in demand, cash flow, and
available finance. Moreover, firms expect sales to continue
declining in the coming months. The pandemic is
disproportionally affecting small and female-owned
businesses. Firms in Kenya are responding to the crisis
through the adoption of digital technologies. About 20
percent of firms have received public support, but lack of
awareness of public assistance options is still large among
those that did not receive any support. Finally, the
COVID-19 Business Pulse Survey (COV-BPS) suggests policy
response options divided into four areas: access to finance,
firm capabilities, access to new markets, and reducing
uncertainty. Additional follow-up surveys are being
conducted for monitoring the current circumstances and
updating the policy recommendations. |
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