Shifting forms of mobility related to COVID-19

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COVID-19 highlights the fact that infectious disease outbreaks and human mobility are intrinsically linked, yet the links are complex. On the one hand, the movement of people can contribute to the spread of these diseases, creating pandemics in the worst cases. On the other hand, such outbreaks also have wide-ranging consequences for human mobility. They can lessen movement directly by order of governments, and indirectly, for example through economic impoverishment. Simultaneously, pandemics can shift mobility…

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COVID-19 and systemic resilience: What role for migrant workers?

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While governments restricted movement and access to workspaces at the height of the pandemic, many also declared certain jobs “essential”, exempting them from the most severe restrictions. Migrants play an important role in essential sectors in many countries.3 As a consequence, migrants doing essential work – including those typically considered “low-skilled” workers, such as crop pickers, care assistants and cleaners in hospitals – have in many countries been designated “key workers” whose supply needs to…

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Linking humanitarian and social protection information systems in the COVID-19 response and beyond

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This note provides a background briefing and five key questions for humanitarian programme staff to consider when making decisions regarding the use of their Information Systems in COVID-19 responses, and beyond. It focuses in particular oncontexts of transition from humanitarian to longer-term, state-led social protection systems. It has been written to accompany and complement a forthcoming SPACE piece focused exclusively on social protection information systems. Main recommendations: From efficiency to ‘digital dignity’: broaden scope of…

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Rights in a pandemic: Lockdowns, rights and lessons from HIV in the early response to COVID-19

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One of the main lessons learned from the HIV response is that human rights-based approaches and community empowerment must be at the centre of any pandemic response. Discrimination, overreliance on criminal law, curtailing civil society operating space, and failing to take proactive measures to respect, protect and fulfil human rights can hamper mobilization of communities to respond to health issues—a necessary ingredient for an effective response. Overly restrictive responses—especially those that do not take the…

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Impact of COVID-19 on Rural Community Work – Conflict Sensitivity Considerations

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Within this blog, Chol Changath, South Sudanese Research Specialist in Livelihoods and Food Security, reflects on the potential impact of COVID-19 on rural community work within South Sudan. Whilst social distancing measures may principally limit food production as farmers and groups within the community cannot gather in close proximity to undertake work, the blog also explores the deeper ramifications of limiting close communal contact and working, including the impact on communal support networks, loss of…

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COVID-19 Aftershocks: Deadly Waves

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As several countries move through the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic and begin to ease lockdowns and reopen their economies and schools, they potentially face repeated waves if effective steps are not taken to tackle the disease everywhere. As a child-focused agency, World Vision is particularly concerned at the growing direct1 and indirect risks of the virus to children and young, especially those in countries with weaker health systems. Effective support from major donor…

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Peacebuilding during the COVID-19 pandemic

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The United Nations (UN) is marking its 75th anniversary at a time of great global disruption, as a result of an unprecedented global health crisis with severe economic, social and political impacts. Will we emerge stronger, more inclusive and better equipped to withstand shocks? Or will distrust and isolation grow further?

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Implications of COVID-19 for the 2020 review of UN peacebuilding

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This analysis brings the impact of COVID-19 on existing peacebuilding initiatives into focus. Drawing on the previous UN peacebuilding review in 2015, this analysis reflects on what remains unchanged in the five year since, the increasing impact of climate change on people’s lives and the subsequent need for bolstering local peace capacities, the insufficient involvement of local peacebuilders in the identification of needs and designing of results frameworks, and the multiple ways in which the…

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How COVID-19 is changing the world: A statistical perspective, Volume II

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The pandemic presents tough choices for governments, local communities, health and school systems, as well as families and businesses: How to re-open safely? How to safeguard people’s lives and protect their livelihoods? Where to allocate scarce resources? How to protect those unable to protect themselves? Answers to questions like these will affect our short-term success in battling the spread of the virus and could have impacts for generations to come. More than ever, the world…

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Pandemic peacebuilding: how to leverage digitalisation for societal resilience in Africa

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As a response to the ongoing health crisis, innovative digital solutions are necessary to help us adapt to the ‘new normal’ − and peacebuilding is no exception. While the African continent is often portrayed as the least ‘connected’ part of the world, its responses to COVID-19 demonstrate the potential for home-grown digital innovation that can strengthen societal resilience. But how can this potential be harnessed by peacebuilders to make sure that their efforts support digital…

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