Employment Shocks, Emergency Social Protection, and Food Security during COVID-19 in South Africa: Causal Evidence and Policy Implications

Johane Dikgang, Isaiah Magambo, Kiana Bachu and Mumbi Kimani

No 1734, GLO Discussion Paper Series from Global Labor Organization (GLO)

Abstract: This study assesses how pandemic-related job losses and social protection impacted food security in South Africa using five waves of data from the NIDS-CRAM survey of 794 individuals. Job loss increased food insecurity by 5.2% (14%), consistent across five methods and lasting for 12 months. COVID-19 grants, including the R350/month Social Relief of Distress grant, reduced food insecurity by 3.8% (10%). The link between employment and food security extends beyond income loss: job loss increased income decline by 8.7%, accounting for less than a third of the total food security effect. Grants mainly worked through non-income benefits, such as psychological support, better food planning, and logistics. The effects were larger for low-income, less-educated households, and families with children. Recommendations include increasing grant levels to 30-40% of median wages, extending the duration, reducing delays, and linking grants with employment services.

Keywords: South Africa; Food Security; Unemployment; COVID-19; Causal Inference; Social Protection (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C21 C23 C26 I15 I31 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-agr and nep-dev
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:zbw:glodps:1734

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