COVID-19 times: Study protocol for rapid assessment of the situation of women and children in Bihar

India reported its first COVID-19 case on January 30, 2020, and numbers began to rise in late March 2020. The containment measures implemented by the national and state governments, particularly the nationwide lockdown, have helped keep the COVID-19 pandemic at a relatively low level in India. Bihar, being one of the poorest states in India, is at particularly high risk of adverse health and economic effects of COVID-19 and the lockdown. The Population Council Institute, in partnership with UNICEF Bihar, is conducting a rapid longitudinal study that aims to inform the design and development of locally relevant suitable response mechanisms to increase resilience and thereby reduce vulnerabilities of local communities in Bihar. The two key research questions are (Phase 1): What are the circumstances and needs of women and children during the COVID-19 crisis? (Phase 2, 3): What is the immediate and long-term impact of the epidemic and related shocks such as loss of livelihoods on health and well-being, with particular focus on women and children and the effects of mitigation measures on key outcomes