Advisory Note: COVID-19 interventions for African countries
COVID-19 has, in less than three months, infected over half a million people, torn apart families and societies, destabilized economies, and disrupted global value chains. This is in many ways an unprecedented global health crisis, which has presented a unique set of problems that governments and business leaders have never previously encountered. For African countries, this virus is expected to overwhelm already insufficient healthcare facilities and reverse the economic growth that many countries have been experiencing in recent years. The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) has revised Africa’s growth downwards from 3.2% to 2%. In addition to this, a significant majority of Africa’s jobs - 80% of which are in the informal sector - cannot be conducted remotely, posing an additional challenge for governments to contend with. It is projected that African economies will need a stimulus of $100 billion to mitigate the economic effects of this virus. This does not even take into consideration its psycho-social ramifications.
Times such as this call for rapid decision-making, coupled with innovative and effective solutions to be able to address continually evolving challenges. African governments should be able to draw on best practices and effective strategies implemented by their neighbors and global counterparts, while also taking into account local particularities to tailor each solution to reflect the country’s context.
This brief will focus on four key areas of concern, focusing on short-term interventions that can be implemented by governments to minimize the harm caused by this pandemic. These four areas are:
Highlighting key challenges and possible solutions, this brief has been prepared by a group of professionals committed to using their experience and wherewithal towards supporting the fight against the pandemic within Africa. This document draws on their combined expertise and global best practices that have proven effective thus far in combating COVID-19. Its purpose is to draw attention to potential solutions that the African private and public sectors could adopt in combating this virus.
<aside> ℹ️ This brief has been prepared by: Mr. Isaac Kwaku Fokuo, Jr., Ms. Marcia Ashong, Ms. Ada Osakwe, Ms. Ory Okolloh, Mr. Kwame Asiedu, Mr. Lai Yahaya, Mr. Mohamed El Dahshan, Ms. Elizabeth Howard, Mr. Eric Kacou, Ms. Biola Alabi, Ms. Aparupa Chakravarti, Ms. Bathsheba Asati
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For any questions or to discuss the proposed solutions further, please email: [email protected]
Currently, African governments are facing massive funding gaps combined with inadequate medical infrastructure and equipment to conduct rapid testing, implement preventive measures, and treat cases as they increase. Additionally, even as more donors and HNWI are stepping up to support the continent, the continent lacks an effective channeling mechanism for funds that have been raised and clarity on the most critical areas to channel these funds towards.