Year: 2020
Context: A global NGO subcontracted us to co-create a comparative learning brief on COVID-19 impact and response in two African countries. The project was coordinated and funded by African and European development organisations
Challenge: COVID-19 has disrupted economies, health systems, labour markets and the youth ecosystem. Additionally, it is a rapidly changing, and ongoing crisis
Key questions:
- What similarities has COVID-19 highlighted between two African countries?
- What impact has COVID-19 had on key stakeholders in the African countries of interest?
- What stakeholder responses can we observe, and what lessons can we learn from them?
- What actions are necessary for a “COVID-ready” society and transformation?
Approach and outcomes:
The brief covered three broad areas:
- Identifying commonalities between country A and country B: A discussion of systemic issues exposed and exacerbated by COVID-19, principles employed by in managing the crisis, and drivers of policy
- Learning from country A and country B: Observations on the impact of COVID-19 on the public sector, private sector and MSMEs, and youth and labour markets, consequent responses, and shortcomings of responses
- Looking forward: The emerging opportunities and the necessary actions going forward, including multi-sector stakeholder collaboration and socioeconomic transformation policies.