Examining the socio-economic and health vulnerabilities of female bushmeat traders in the context of COVID-19 in Ghana

The COVID-19 pandemic and efforts to control it have threatened livelihoods, introduced new workplace risks, and made unstable work relationships even more precarious, especially for women. Women in Ghana faced serious socioeconomic and health barriers prior to COVID-19, and there are clear indications that the pandemic has affected women more than men, especially those working in the informal sector. Women dominate the informal sector in Ghana, where they sell various commodities, including bushmeat. Even though bushmeat trading has long been a major livelihood activity for women, there is a lack of knowledge on the health hazards of the trade, including women’s exposure to zoonotic diseases.

This project will examine the interrelated factors that determine women’s livelihood challenges and opportunities in the context of COVID-19, drawing on the case of women bushmeat traders in Ghana. The expected results include improved understanding of an insufficiently known livelihood activity for women, increased awareness of the issues among stakeholders and policymakers, and mobilizing efforts and resources to enhance the well-being of women participating in the bushmeat trade and the promotion of gender and health equity in Ghana generally.

This project is funded under Women’s health and economic empowerment for a COVID-19 Recovery that is Inclusive, Sustainable and Equitable (Women RISE), an initiative of IDRC, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council. Its aim is to support global action-oriented, gender-transformative research by teams of researchers from low- and middle-income countries and Canada.