The Civil Defence Commission (CDC) is collaborating with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to conduct an assessment of the effects of COVID-19 on Guyanese households.
A joint UNDP/CDC release on Tuesday announced that the two agencies will commence a Socio-Economic Impact Assessment (SEIA) of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) on households in Guyana with effect from September 1.
The aim of the SEIA is to determine the short- to long-term impact of COVID-19 on Guyana’s society and economy, with the aim of informing response and recovery policy interventions and other measures. The Consultancy Group Inc has been contracted to conduct the assessment, and in keeping with COVID-19 guidelines and regulations, will conduct the exercise using Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing (CATI). The assessment team will be contacting residents across the country via phone to conduct interviews regarding their experiences with COVID-19 and related measures. Where phone services are not available, local teams will conduct in-person interviews while adhering to physical distancing and other COVID-19 measures.
Consultancy Group Inc is a professional consulting firm established in 2009 and based in Georgetown, Guyana. The firm conducts research and analysis for governments, the private sector, multilateral financing institutions and donors to inform decision making and action.
CDC’s Director General, Lt Col Kester Craig stressed the importance of the assessment by stating that it will be “a great asset which can enhance the effectiveness of the national COVID-19 response.” He informed that “the facts and evidence which the SEIA will capture regarding the impact of COVID-19 on the lives and livelihoods of Guyanese, our sectors and industries, will also be used to develop plans for recovery; to bring our Guyanese society and economy back to normalcy and possibly better than it was before.”
UNDP Resident Representative, Jairo Valverde, spoke of the UNDP’s responsibility for leading the COVID-19 socio-economic recovery planning and partnership with government, on behalf of the United Nations Country Team. He noted that the UNDP is pleased to partner with the CDC on the assessment exercise and looks forward to the elaboration of response and recovery measures to support Guyana in its recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Both the CDC and UNDP are encouraging communities and residents alike to fully support the assessment teams as information gathered will be of benefit to all Guyanese, the release added.
Enquiries regarding the assessment can be made to The Consultancy Group Inc, 263 Earl’s Avenue, Subryanville, Georgetown. Tel: 225 8771/225 8773 or E-mail: tcg@the consultancygroupguyana.com
