Will Lessons from Cholera in Haiti Be Applied to COVID-19?

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In recent weeks, the United Nations Department of Peace Operations announced a series of protocol changes to reduce the risk that peacekeepers will introduce COVID-19 into vulnerable countries. As the introduction of cholera to Haiti in 2010 by UN peacekeepers demonstrates, such preventative measures are critical. Yet there is cause for concern that the lessons from cholera in Haiti have not translated into adequate action to protect peacekeeping host communities from the preventable transmission of…

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Coronavirus is a crisis for the developing world, but here’s why it needn’t be a catastrophe

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In this article, the authors argue for a universal ultra basic income (UUBI) as a strategy for development countries to cope with the economic impact of COVID-19.   Read more

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Nigeria’s response to Covid-19

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Nigeria was successful in eliminating Ebola, despite a weak public health system. In this blog post, expert on governance in Nigeria, Clare Cummings, uncovers why this was and whether Covid-19 could be addressed in the same way.   Read more

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The COVID Pandemic and Social Networks in South Sudan

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Strong, positive social bonds, both within and between communities, are a foundation for building peace. Ensuring that aid programmes do not erode these bonds is fundamental to conflict sensitive programming. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on South Sudan’s social networks is yet unknown. Drawing on research conducted by Mercy Corps and Tufts University in Unity State, this paper explores the role of social networks in South Sudan and how they could be impacted by…

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Responding to COVID-19 in Africa: Using Data to Find a Balance

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In this report, the Partnership for Evidence-Based Response to COVID-19 (PERC), a consortium of global public health organizations and private sector firms, brings together findings from a survey conducted March 29-April 17, 2020 in 28 cities across 20 AU Member States, along with epidemiological measures of disease transmission and indicators of population movements and unrest, among others. Synthesized, these data provide a first-of-its-kind snapshot of baseline conditions in Africa during this rapidly evolving pandemic.  …

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The Impact of COVID-19 on Transitional Elections and Peacebuilding

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COVID-19 has delayed elections worldwide at an unprecedented rate, which will affect peacebuilding efforts. This policy brief argues that Germany should support national institutions in developing consultation mechanisms between electoral management bodies, public health authorities and other relevant actors and assist in crisis communication to create spaces for dialogue and to counter disinformation.   Read more

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Africa’s coronavirus safety nets cannot cover all

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This article argues that many African countries moved rapidly to curb the initial spread of coronavirus, but they have been slower to cushion their citizens from its economic impact.   Read more

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The missing link in Africa’s COVID-19 response

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Health systems in sub-Saharan Africa cannot withstand a COVID-19 surge. But many African countries are proactively availing themselves of the guidance to enact non-medical protective measures: curfews, lockdowns and attempts at social distancing. The author of this article argues that, however, implementing this guidance in sub-Saharan Africa, as in other low-income settings, requires some adaptation, contextualization and reprioritization for an effective and acceptable response. Strong government leadership and national guidance are critical, but insufficient to…

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Africa: Triple Threat – Conflict, Gender-Based Violence and COVID-19

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Women and girls are at high risk for rape and sexual violence, as well as death – whether from armed conflicts, from conditions in refugee camps or from domestic violence while trapped at home with their abusers. Mandatory lockdowns have limited women’s access to life-saving support, including sexual and reproductive health clinics. Deaths in childbirth, already high, are expected to climb. The combined effect is catastrophic in countries affected by armed conflict and by humanitarian…

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The Covid-19 Riddle: Why Does the Virus Wallop Some Places and Spare Others?

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The question of why the virus has overwhelmed some places and left others relatively untouched is a puzzle that has spawned numerous theories and speculations but no definitive answers. That knowledge could have profound implications for how countries respond to the virus, for determining who is at risk and for knowing when it’s safe to go out again. This article explores different explanations for this observation.   Read more

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