hinder their access to better economic opportunities, including barriers to accessing local employment opportunities and education. Indeed, women in the Shona community report having lower labor force participation rates than men, and are more likely to be outside the labor force, often citing their role as homemakers. The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic worsened the livelihoods and access to services of the Shona. Results from the Kenya RRPS show that employment rates, earnings, and business revenues have dropped sharply since the pandemic outbreak in March 2020. While 73 percent of the Shona were employed before the COVID-19 pandemic, only 22 percent were employed as of July 2020. The decrease in hours worked by the few that were formerly employed before the outbreak and the temporary closure of businesses have tremendously affected wages and revenues. In addition, even though the majority of Shona children (66 percent) are engaged in some form of learning activities at home due to school closures, the means of learning raises questions of efficacy. Access to e-learning platforms as recommended by the GoK is low, and learning activities are mainly done through the reading of school textbooks. Furthermore, access to health facilities compared to before the pandemic outbreak has also decreased, due mainly to fear of contracting the virus. The SES provide the following policy recommendations while offering options to help mitigate the socioeconomic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on stateless communities: 1. Strengthening job-related skills, increasing work opportunities, and understanding barriers to formal employment can help improve living standards among the Shona community. Strengthening job-related skills through programs linked to work opportunities can be instrumental in increasing employment rates and addressing market needs. Evidently, facilitating issuance of identity documents and work permits can also enhance access to formal employment. Furthermore, a deeper understanding of barriers to formal employment can help inform targeted policies to improve livelihoods. A gender-­responsive approach must be integrated to ensure women’s participation in the paid labor market. 2. Building and maintaining human capital among the Shona community, especially among girls and women, emerges as a policy priority. Substantial investment is needed to build and maintain human capital by improving access to education and supporting the transition to secondary school, especially among secondary school-age children. Removing the requirements of identity documents to enroll in education and enhancing access to income generating opportunities among adults of nonschool age will be key in supporting access to education for Shona children and youth. Easing access to education will be key in mitigating the socioeconomic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. 3. Investing in health, education, and livelihood strategies can help mitigate the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Ensuring access to safe health care for non-COVID-19-related health concerns can help reduce the risk of future health crises and overwhelming the health system. On education, providing homeschooling materials and increasing access to e-learning can support children’s education and keep students from falling behind. Finally, targeted cash transfers, increased access to financial services, and information campaigns on existing support programs can help reduce negative impacts on livelihoods. Executive Summary 10183_Shona Report.indd 13  xiii 12/14/20 2:56 PM