If Children Aren’t Full, Can Adults Eat?

Investment Rating - The report does not explicitly provide an investment rating for the industry discussed Core Insights - The report highlights the adaptation mechanisms of poor households in Côte d'Ivoire facing price shocks, emphasizing the negative coping strategies adopted due to increased food and energy prices, which have led to heightened financial and food insecurity [12][18][27] - It notes that the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, and the war in Ukraine have exacerbated the economic challenges faced by these households, leading to a rise in poverty levels [12][18][44] - The findings indicate that the impacts of price spikes are not gender-neutral, with women bearing a greater emotional and financial burden, while children face increased risks of school dropout and child labor [12][28][44] Summary by Sections Introduction - The report discusses the trend of poverty reduction in Côte d'Ivoire, noting a decrease in the poverty rate from 39.5% in 2018 to 37.5% in 2021, but highlights that this progress has been uneven across urban and rural areas [18][40] Negative Coping Mechanisms - Poor households have adopted various negative coping strategies, such as reducing food consumption, selling assets, accumulating debt, and relying more on traditional medicine [12][23][24] - The report emphasizes that these strategies can lead to a downward spiral into deeper poverty, amplifying vulnerabilities to future shocks [27][51] Gendered Impacts - The report details how the economic crisis has differentially affected household members, with women experiencing increased domestic burdens and men facing unemployment [28][44] - Children, particularly girls, are at risk of early pregnancy and school dropout due to the economic pressures [28][32] Building Resilience - Factors that can help build resilience among poor households include participation in safety net programs, access to informal finance, and formal employment [12][32] - The report suggests that targeted policies are necessary to protect vulnerable households from the adverse effects of price shocks [12][32] Conclusions - The report concludes that multisector efforts are needed to strengthen the resilience of poor Ivorians to current and future economic shocks, emphasizing the importance of protecting human capital and ensuring income-generating activities [32][33]