The military value-add in situations of crisis: the case of COVID-19

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The breakout of the coronavirus (COVID-19) set in motion one of the most devastating global crises of our time. While COVID-19 started as a health crisis, the pandemic quickly morphed into a society-wide strategic, security and social economic crisis of monumental proportions. This article argues that the current deployment of the military in several African countries to combat the COVID-19 pandemic attests to the value of these important assets across the world. The doctrine, competence,…

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Why Governance Matters in the Time of COVID-19

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This blog post argues that while we do not yet know what medicinal cocktails can effectively combat the global coronavirus pandemic, we do know what sort of governance is necessary. Governments with high accountability, transparency, and trust are proving to have more success responding credibly, responsibly, and effectively.   Read more

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What Ebola Crisis Can Teach Us About COVID-19 Compliance

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This article argues that where national institutions have been damaged by corruption and other unethical behavior, a crisis such as COVID-19 exacerbates business pressures and compliance risks. Corporate compliance and legal teams can learn from risks and responses during the Ebola outbreak to anticipate and address similar fraud, corruption and compliance risks caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.   Read more

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What kind of research should inform Covid responses?

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This blog post argues that, if we agree that evidence-informed policy and practice are good things, we need to think about what kind of research gets commissioned. Some kinds of research are definitely more useful than others.   Read more

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Confirmation of Africa’s Historical Rejection in the Wake of Covid-19

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Historically, the African continent has been made to believe that it is not only dark and uncivilized but also less valuable to the international system. The negative narrative is traceable to Western civilization when Heorodotus related a cautionary tale about the continent following the seizure and capture of Nasamonians after days of wandering in Southern Libya. After Heorodotus’ threatening tale, subsequent European thinkers’ views of slave trade, racism and colonialism crystallized the backward and savagery…

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COVID-19 in humanitarian contexts: no excuses to leave persons with disabilities behind!

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This collection and review of evidence aims to illustrate how the COVID-19 crisis triggers disproportionate risks and barriers for men, women, boys and girls with disabilities living in humanitarian settings. It highlights recommendations for humanitarian actors, to enhance inclusive action, aligned with existing guidance and learnings on disability inclusion. It is based on evidence, including testimonies, collected by HI programs in 19 countries of intervention. Special efforts were made to reflect the voices of persons…

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COVID-19 and the promise of food system innovation

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The COVID-19 pandemic and the lockdowns that followed have disrupted private food supply chains and the public support systems the poor rely on for food and good nutrition. But these problems have also triggered many creative and entrepreneurial responses. Corinna Hawkes of the Centre for Food Policy at City, University of London, reviews a variety of the proliferating innovations by governments, businesses, and communities to get food to the people who need it. She also…

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COVID-19 policies not backed by data do more harm than good

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As countries “reopen” in this ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, most do so in the dark, using either poor and inaccurate data or worse – no data at all – to inform policies that can in some cases decide who lives and dies. The common phrase, data over dogma, is often heard from scientists and citizens alike. But is there enough data to drive informed decision-making? Many countries have lacked evidence-based COVID-19 policies due to the scarcity…

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Without face-to-face meetings, what does peace building look like during COVID-19?

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As COVID-19 cases continue to climb in many regions worldwide, some fragile countries face ongoing conflict at the same time. Civil society organizations and networks in conflict countries such as Afghanistan and Yemen are getting creative with their advocacy efforts, finding new ways to appeal directly to warring parties and press for peace. “Where programs have been able to continue and where social-distancing measures are in place, peace building is harder to do. There is a…

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Women, peace and a pandemic: Translating gender provisions in peace deals into peaceful and inclusive societies during the COVID-19 outbreak

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“Today, it should be unthinkable for peace talks or negotiations that take place in the world to not incorporate gender as a central aspect, since women not only have a right to meaningful participation, but are also key actors in the construction of peace.” – Nigeria Renteria, principal negotiator in the peace process between the Colombian Government and the Colombian Revolutionary Armed Forces (FARC) Ms. Renteria’s statement during the online panel discussion on Gender in…

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