Health, food security and social protection research

Tebbutt Research has worked on household and community research covering health-adjacent issues, food security, COVID-19 impacts, vaccine attitudes, social welfare recipients, disaster-responsive cash transfers and climate-related community impacts.

This work often focuses on people and households experiencing disruption, vulnerability or service barriers. The research helps governments, development partners and programme teams understand how shocks are affecting communities, how people are coping, and how support systems are working in practice.

Because this work can involve sensitive topics and difficult personal circumstances, Tebbutt Research places strong emphasis on safe and ethical research practice. Staff are trained to approach interviews with care, respect and confidentiality, and to recognise when topics may be distressing for respondents or for field teams themselves. We also provide counselling support for staff who are emotionally affected by the work they undertake. Our commitment is to conduct research in a way that respects all people involved — respondents, communities, clients and our own teams.

COVID-19, food security and household wellbeing

During the COVID-19 period, Tebbutt Research supported high-frequency phone survey work in Solomon Islands.

The Solomon Islands High Frequency Phone Survey on COVID-19 collected evidence on vaccines, employment and income, food security, coping strategies, health, public trust, security, assets and wellbeing.

Round 3 interviewed 2,503 households across the country between June and August 2021. Telephone interviews were conducted through a Solomon Islands call centre set up by Tebbutt Research.

Solomon Islands High Frequency Phone Survey on COVID-19 2021, Round 3 – Pacific Data Hub

Round 4 interviewed 2,671 households between January and February 2022. The survey continued to track COVID-19 impacts, including vaccines, employment, income, food security, health, coping strategies, public trust and wellbeing.

Solomon Islands High Frequency Phone Survey on COVID-19 2022, Round 4 – Microdata Library

This type of phone survey research was especially important during a period when normal fieldwork and service monitoring were disrupted. It allowed data to be collected quickly and safely while still reaching households across urban and rural areas.

Social protection and welfare recipients

Tebbutt Research has also contributed to research on social protection systems and welfare recipients.

In Fiji, a World Bank report on the Poverty Benefit Scheme states that fieldwork, data collection and initial analysis were conducted by Tebbutt Research. The study examined Fiji’s social assistance system and the experiences of households receiving support.

World Bank report on Fiji’s Poverty Benefit Scheme

In Tonga, a World Bank social protection report states that Tebbutt Research supervised and coordinated data collection and fieldwork management. The study examined top-up transfers after Tropical Cyclone Gita, including support provided to elderly beneficiaries and other recipient households.

World Bank report on social protection in Tonga

Research with welfare recipients requires careful fieldwork, clear communication, respect for privacy and sensitivity to household circumstances. It also requires data collection systems that can capture practical details about service access, payment use, household needs and the experience of receiving support.

Disaster response and cash transfers

Tebbutt Research’s public record also includes work connected to disaster response and adaptive social protection.

Devex lists a DFAT contract award to Tebbutt Research for an evaluation of cash transfers for Fiji social protection schemes following Tropical Cyclone Harold.

Evaluation of Cash Transfer for Fiji Social Protection Schemes – Tropical Cyclone Harold – Devex

In Vanuatu, the World Bank report Towards Adaptive Social Protection in Vanuatu thanks Tebbutt Research for leading fieldwork, data collection and data cleaning. The study examined a humanitarian cash transfer programme in Sanma Province after Tropical Cyclone Harold and during COVID-19.

Towards Adaptive Social Protection in Vanuatu – World Bank

These projects sit at the intersection of disaster response, household welfare and social protection. They examine how support reaches affected households, how people use assistance, and how programmes can respond to shocks such as cyclones, pandemics and income disruption.

Climate impacts and community research

Tebbutt Research has also contributed to climate-related community research.

A Plan International report on climate change, gender and community impacts notes that data was collected by Tebbutt Research and femLINK Pacific. The report discusses climate impacts, loss and damage, and displacement risks affecting children, young people and communities.

Until we are all equal – Plan International Australia

This work reflects the increasing overlap between climate research, social protection, health, food security, gender and community resilience.

Research in sensitive and disrupted contexts

Research on health, food security, social protection and disaster response often takes place in difficult conditions.

Households may be affected by income loss, food insecurity, cyclone damage, illness, displacement or uncertainty about services. Fieldwork may need to be conducted by phone, in remote areas, after disasters, or with people receiving government or humanitarian assistance.

Tebbutt Research’s role is to collect data in a way that is practical, respectful and reliable.

Across these public examples, our work has included:

• High-frequency phone surveys
• Household surveys
• Welfare-recipient research
• Vaccine attitude and COVID-19 modules
• Food security and coping strategy measurement
• Social protection and cash transfer evaluations
• Disaster-response research
• Fieldwork with vulnerable households
• Data collection, data cleaning and analysis
• Climate and community impact research