Informal Cross Border Trade Qualitative Baseline Survey 2008
Uganda, 2008
Identification
UGA_2008_ICBT-BL_v01_M
Informal Cross Border Trade Qualitative Baseline Survey 2008
| Name | Country code |
|---|---|
| Uganda | UGA |
Informal Sector Survey [hh/iss]
The Informal Cross Border Trade Qualitative Baseline Survey (IBCT) is the first comprehensive study of its kind to be conducted in Uganda to bridge information gaps regarding informal trade environment.
The Informal Cross Border Trade Qualitative Baseline Survey (ICBT) 2008 represented a normal market response to cumbersome documentations, time-consuming customs regulations and regional price distortions for border communities. It was a source of livelihood for both men and women at the border posts. While to government and other institutions such as URA and Police, ICBT regards the ICBT as a potential loss of revenue, illegal activity/disguised smuggling and a source of unfair competition to official traders and domestic producers.
It was observed that traders engage in ICBT as source of employment to earn income to cater for their families and buy cheap goods across the border points. The involvement in ICBT was also linked to the lucrative market opportunities offered by the counterparts in the bordering country. And on the other hand, high profit margins obtained ICBT activities was equally a driving force for engagement in the trade. The findings further indicate that the scarcity of food supplies in the neighboring countries could have encouraged people to participate in ICBT. The readily available market for agricultural commodities in Kenya, Rwanda, Democratic Republic of Congo and Tanzania, together with the political stability and good relations existing between the Ugandans and her neighbors was mentioned as factors facilitating ICBT.
The overall objective of the ICBT qualitative survey was to generate baseline information on informal trading environment so as to inform policy and decision making process. In consultation with her stakeholders, UBOS conducted the Informal Cross Border Trade (ICBT) qualitative survey to understand the dynamics of informal trade and its implications on border communities. The survey sought to investigate issues regarding food security, access to financial services, marketing information, gender roles and general constraints to trade in terms of tariff and non-tariff barriers to informal trade activities. The specific objectives of the ICBT include:
- Understanding the contribution of ICBT activities on border households/communities in terms of food security, income generation and family relations.
- Understanding the factors that contribute to the continued ICBT activities at border posts
- Investigating the gender aspects and vulnerable groups like children, PWDs involvement in informal trade transactions and the challenges faced.
- Understanding how informal trade is organized, funded and its role in poverty reduction among the border communities.
- Establishing the constraints to informal trade in terms of tariff and non- tariff barriers under EAC Customs Union
This study was conducted at the border posts of Busia located in Busia District, Mutukula in Rakai District, Mirama Hills in Ntungamo District and Mpondwe in Kasese District during the month of September 2008. These border posts were purposively selected with due considerations regarding the organization of trade, volume of business and diversity of countries that border Uganda.
Sample survey data [ssd]
- Household
- Individual
Version
Version 01: Edited, dataset used for the production of the final report and for public distribution.
2008-12
Scope
The ICBT Baseline Survey covered the following topics:
- Background information and characteristics of the actors in ICBT
- Economic and social position of persons engaged in ICBT
- Decision making and access to resources and services
- Implications and impacts of ICBT activities
- Constraints traders face while engaging in ICBT
- Coping mechanisms traders use to survive in Informal Cross Border Trade
Coverage
Busia, Mutukula, Mirama Hills, and Mpondwe
The survey covered all households at the border posts that owned a business or businesses.
Producers and sponsors
| Name | Affiliation |
|---|---|
| Uganda Bureau of Statistics | Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development |
| Name | Affiliation | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Ministry of Tourism, Trade and Industry | Government of Uganda | Technical assistance |
| Name |
|---|
| Government of Uganda |
| Integrated Framework |
Sampling
The listing of business households was done by enumerators to establish the number of existing households (population size) at selected border posts. This was done in a sequential manner to avoid omission or duplication while recording details regarding the household head, type and duration of business. The sampling frame was then generated from the list of business households upon which a sample was selected.
The selection of the business households was systematically done. The first sampling unit in the sample was selected using a random number and the remaining units were selected by the predetermined rule. After generating the sample frame to determine the population size, the sampling interval k was applied to select subsequent units. For instance, if the population size is N units and the required sample size is n, including y for substitution.
We can then calculate the sampling Interval (k) as indicated in the report.
The random start is a number where the interviewer starts with the sampling basing on the serial numbers. This number does not exceed the sampling interval and hence it would lie between 001 and 007 in our example above. Suppose the fifth (005) business household was selected as a random start using random numbers, the next to be selected will be (005+7) 12th, (012+7) 19th and so on to the last household in the sample.
The sample selection depended on the total population size (N) of the listed households. For example, due to the nature of business of Mutukula, we listed less than 350 business households but at the same time we had to consider the total sample for all the sampled borders in order to determine the size of the sample. In Mirama border post, all the 55 (N) business households listed were covered during enumeration.
Systematic sampling was found to be cost effective owing to the linear settlement of the business households along the border posts. Follow-up and substitution of the non-response cases could be easily done.
The identification and selection of the respondents to participants in the FGDs was done with assistance of local council leaders at the border post. On the other hand, the identification of Key informants and case studies was pre-determined or identified during FGDs.
Survey instrument
The ICBT was comprised of the Qualitative Survey Questionnaire.
Data collection
| Start | End |
|---|---|
| 2008-08 | 2008-10 |
| Name | Affiliation |
|---|---|
| Uganda Bureau of Statistics | Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development |
The Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) provided technical personnel who worked together with the field teams to carry out the survey. UBOS mobilized collaborating institutions to participate in the survey design and identification of thematic areas. The Principal Investigators, who doubled as supervisors, were involved in the development of data collection instruments and survey implementation in accordance to qualitative methods. The supervisors and coordinators ensured adherence to qualitative data collection techniques and quality control.
The overall research team comprised of four teams each with a coordinator, supervisor, team leader and four interviewers. The supervisors and the four field teams held daily evaluation meetings to identify challenges and way forward. These meetings also provided an opportunity to edit the questionnaires and give a feedback to the data collection team. Continuous field checkup were done to ensure collection of quality information in consonance with research objectives. Field teams also benefited from technical support from coordinators who provided overall
supervision and technical expertise.
Data processing
Data editing took place at a number of stages throughout the processing, including:
- Office editing and coding
- During data entry
- Structure checking and completeness
- Secondary editing
- Structural checking of Stata data files
Data Access
| Name | Affiliation | URL | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Uganda Bureau of Statistics | Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development | www.ubos.org | ubos@ubos.org |
| Is signing of a confidentiality declaration required? | Confidentiality declaration text |
|---|---|
| yes | Confidentiality of respondents is guaranteed by Article 19 of The Uganda Bureau of Statistics Act, 1998. Before being granted access to the dataset, all users have to formally agree: 1. To make no copies of any files or portions of files to which s/he is granted access except those authorized by the data depositor. 2. Not to use any technique in an attempt to learn the identity of any person, establishment, or sampling unit not identified on public use data files. 3. To hold in strictest confidence the identification of any establishment or individual that may be inadvertently revealed in any documents or discussion, or analysis. Such inadvertent identification revealed in her/his analysis will be immediately brought to the attention of the data depositor. |
The dataset is available as a Public Use Dataset. It is accessible to all for statistical and research purposes only, under the following terms and conditions:
1.The data and other materials will not be redistributed or sold to other individuals, institutions, or organizations without the written agreement of Uganda Bureau of Statistics.
2.The data will be used for statistical and scientific research purposes only. They will be used solely for reporting of aggregated
information, and not for investigation of specific individuals or organizations.
3.No attempt will be made to re-identify respondents, and no use will be made of the identity of any person or establishment discovered inadvertently. Any such discovery would immediately be reported to Uganda Bureau of Statistics.
4. No attempt will be made to produce links among datasets provided by Uganda Bureau of Statistics, or among data from Uganda Bureau of Statistics and other datasets that could identify individuals or organizations.
5. Any books, articles, conference papers, theses, dissertations, reports, or other publications that employ data obtained from Uganda Bureau of Statistics will cite the source of data in accordance with the Citation Requirement provided with each dataset.
6. An electronic copy of all reports and publications based on the requested data will be sent to Uganda Bureau of Statistics. 7. The original collector of the data, Uganda Bureau of Statistics, and the relevant funding agencies bear no responsibility for
use of the data or for interpretations or inferences based upon such uses.
The use of this dataset must be acknowledged using a citation which would include:
- the identification of the Primary Investigator (including country name)
- the full title of the survey and its acronym (when available), and the year(s) of implementation
- the survey reference number
- the source and date of download (for datasets disseminated online)
Example:
Uganda Bureau of Statistics, Informal Cross Border Trade Qualitative Baseline Survey (ICBT) 2008. Ref. UGA_2008_ICBT-BL_v01_M. Dataset downloaded from [URL] on [date].
Disclaimer and copyrights
The user of the data acknowledges that the original collector of the data, the authorized distributor of the data, and the relevant funding agency bear no responsibility for use of the data or for interpretations or inferences based upon such uses.
Contacts
| Name | Affiliation | URL | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Uganda Bureau of Statistics | Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development | ubos@ubos.org | www.ubos.org |