Title: Exploring the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on the social and economic needs of poor communities via the CBR framework
Authors: Roshima Said; Corina Joseph; Azlan Amran; Ida Normaya Mohd Nasir
Addresses: Faculty of Accountancy, Universiti Teknologi MARA, 08400, Merbok, Kedah, Malaysia ' Faculty of Accountancy, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Jalan Meranek, 94300 Kota Samarahan, Sarawak, Malaysia ' Graduate School of Business, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 USM Pulau Pinang, Malaysia ' Faculty of Computer and Mathematics Sciences, Universiti Teknologi MARA, 08400, Merbok, Kedah, Malaysia
Abstract: The current situation with the COVID 19 pandemic has put poor communities all over the world in a difficult position, especially in terms of socio-economic balance and livelihood consequences. The objective of this study is to explore the actual social and economic needs of the poverty community which focused on the concept of community-based responsibility (CBR). The study used the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) analysis approach to assess a priority of preference criteria for social and economic needs amongst the poor community. The findings indicated that education was the top priority as compared to other social needs elements; meanwhile, the highest priority ranking for economic needs was access to employment opportunity. The findings help the government prioritise the plans for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The study's contribution also urges the government to come up with a strategy to assist the underprivileged in escaping poverty by increasing employment chances.
Keywords: poverty; social needs; economic needs; COVID-19; community-based responsibility; CBR.
DOI: 10.1504/IJSSOC.2023.135013
International Journal of Sustainable Society, 2023 Vol.15 No.4, pp.388 - 406
Received: 19 Jul 2021
Received in revised form: 14 Jul 2022
Accepted: 26 Oct 2022
Published online: 27 Nov 2023 *