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Blog post
What happens after the lockdown ends? Lessons from the 2015 Ebola epidemic in Sierra Leone
There have now been over 5 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 around the world, with the number of deaths moving towards 350,000. Policymakers in many countries have responded to the pandemic by implementing measures related to social distancing and a large share of humanity remains in some form of lockdown condition. As a consequence of the uncertainty caused by the...
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Blog post
Urban agriculture: A viable safety net for the urban poor during times of crisis?
One of the most devastating side effects of COVID-19 and the associated national lockdowns is the impact it is having on food access for the poor. Sub-Saharan Africa, with an already fragile food system, where rapid urbanisation and the rise of urban poverty pose substantial challenges to food security and nutrition, is likely to be hit the hardest. A simulation by the IGC...
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Blog post
Event highlights: The impact of COVID-19 on informal and migrant workers in India
In IGC’s third online public event on addressing the economic challenges of COVID-19 in developing countries, we turn to India, where a nationwide lockdown amidst the COVID-19 pandemic has critically dislocated its migrant population. On 24 March 2020, the central government of India imposed a lockdown and closed businesses when cases of COVID-19 in the country...
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Blog post
Rwanda’s response to COVID-19 and future challenges
Containment efforts have been effective; however, an impending global recession means the economic impacts of the pandemic will continue to be felt. In Rwanda, as of 19 May 2020, there have been 297 cases of COVID-19, of which 94 are active. There have been no deaths. These statistics are remarkable for the low number of cases and the fact that there have been no deaths so...
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Blog post
The shadow pandemic: Gender-based violence and COVID-19
Increases in gender-based violence during lockdowns, labelled the “shadow pandemic” by the UN, threaten the lives and livelihoods of women and girls in Africa’s largest economy. Nigeria has long been facing a gender-based violence crisis, with 30% of women and girls aged 15-49 having experienced sexual abuse. Lack of coordination amongst key stakeholders and poor...
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Blog post
Smart containment and social protection: Lessons from Kenya’s COVID-19 fight
During a time of high uncertainty, the Kenyan government has taken careful and considered steps towards containing COVID-19, while keeping as much of the economy functioning as possible. To work most effectively, the government’s smart containment strategy must be informed by data – more extensive COVID-19 testing is critical for this. As with many other African...
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Blog post
IGC’s response to COVID-19: A message from IGC’s Executive Director
The IGC’s overriding strategic priority in this period is to support developing country governments as they design and implement their COVID-19 policy response. We are focusing our research efforts, our country teams, and our policy relationships on providing this support. As the COVID-19 crisis has spread to developing countries, it has become clear that the impact on...
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Blog post
Impacts of the COVID-19 crisis on vegetable value chains in Ethiopia
Measures to contain COVID-19 are expected to have significant effects on food value chains—but with important differences between commodities. Horticultural products are expected to be especially vulnerable because of their seasonal labour requirements and high perishability. In a recent survey, Seneshaw Tamru, Kalle Hirvonen, and Bart Minten tried to assess immediate...
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Blog post
Responding to the impacts of COVID-19 on informal workers in South Asia
Informal workers contribute the most to the economy in the region but are excluded from the legal and contractual protections of formal workers. As the COVID-19 crisis continues to unfold across the world, informal workers remain exceptionally vulnerable to the economic and labour market shocks of the pandemic. Many of these workers are likely to lose their jobs and face...
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Blog post
Managing access to healthcare in Mozambique during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors’ note: This work is being co-developed with Janeth Dula, Sergio Chicumbe and Eduardo Samo Gudo from the National Institute of Health at the Ministry of Health in Mozambique. Low-cost solutions, like scheduled appointments, can improve healthcare delivery and medication adherence, while reducing vulnerability to infection. The district hospital of Nicoadala in...
Blog post
What happens after the lockdown ends? Lessons from the 2015 Ebola epidemic in Sierra Leone
There have now been over 5 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 around the world, with the number of deaths moving towards 350,000. Policymakers in many countries have responded to the pandemic by implementing measures related to social distancing and a large share of humanity remains in some form of lockdown condition. As a consequence of the uncertainty caused by the...