Food Vulnerability of Senegalese Households in the Face of the COVID-19 Crisis: An Assessment by the Food Consumption Score

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has posed unprecedented challenges to global food security, with particularly severe effects in low- and middle-income countries. In Senegal, where household livelihoods largely depend on informal employment and remittances, the crisis has exacerbated existing vulnerabilities. This study assesses the impact of the pandemic on household food security using the Food Consumption Score (FCS). The analysis combines primary data from a doctoral household survey with secondary data from the National Agency of Statistics and Demography (ANSD). Results indicate significant disruptions in household welfare, with 36% of household heads stopping work during the crisis, and 30% attributing job loss directly to COVID-19. Furthermore, 85% of households reported a decline in income, which substantially limited their ability to access diverse and nutritious food. Remittances emerged as the most fragile income source, with econometric simulations showing that a 25% reduction in transfers leads to a 16.6% decline in the FCS, compared to a 10.3% decline for wages and 2.3% for family business income. The findings highlight a sharp deterioration in household food security during the pandemic, underscoring the vulnerability of households that rely on remittances. The study contributes to the literature by providing micro-level evidence from Senegal and demonstrating the utility of the FCS in capturing crisis-induced shocks. Policy recommendations include strengthening targeted income support, protecting remittance flows, and enhancing social safety nets to mitigate the effects of future shocks on food and nutrition security.