Why Governance Matters in the Time of COVID-19

|by

||||

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

Read more

The Impact of Covid-19 on Peace and Transition Processes: Tracking the Trends

|by and

, ||, ||

The research used expert surveys on a set of conflict countries, to understand how Covid-19 pandemic responses were affecting conflict and peace process dynamics. The main findings were as follows: 1. It could have been expected that the Covid-19 crisis would have provided an incentive to opposing groups to ‘pull together’ around ceasefires and peace initiatives. However, experts were pessimistic overall about the pandemic’s impact on peace processes. Main causes for pessimism were the diversion…

Read more

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

|by

||, ||

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…

Read more

COVID-19 and the promise of food system innovation

|by

, |, |, ||

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…

Read more

Social safety nets are crucial to the COVID-19 response. Some lessons to boost their effectiveness

|by

, |, |||

The poor and other vulnerable groups are suffering the most negative consequences from the COVID-19 pandemic. In response, many governments are rapidly expanding social protection programs. Dan Gilligan describes why safety nets are essential tools in this global emergency, and provides specific recommendations on how these programs can be adapted and implemented to increase their immediate effectiveness—and provide a bridge to faster recovery of households, communities, and national economies.   Read more

Read more

COVID-19 Rumours as Transcripts of Resistance in South Sudan

|by

, ||||

The South Sudanese Eye Radio reported that South Sudan is likely to be the most dangerous country in the world for people infected by COVID-19. Additional reports, including the International Growth Centre’s recent brief, suggest that the economic impact of the COVID-19 induced lockdowns in Sub-Saharan Africa will perhaps be the most significant threat to the continent. Worsening matters, South Sudan’s oil reserves will likely run dry within the next 10-years and the COVID-19 virus has…

Read more

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

|by

||, ||

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…

Read more

The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the women, peace and security agenda in Africa

|by

|, |||

Women-led organisations that are dealing with peace, security and development are playing a key role in developing policies, strategies and guidelines for gender-responsive actions to prevent and combat COVID-19, and in post-COVID-19 recovery.   Read more

Read more

Country profile: The impact of COVID-19 on stability and the peace process in South Sudan

|by

, ||||

One of the ways in which COVID-19 had a negative impact on the implementation of the peace process was felt when the government decided to suspend the training of the unified forces as a precautionary measure – a decision that affected 29 000 combatants. The creation of a unified army was one of the core aspects of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS), signed in 2018. Delays in the…

Read more

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

|by

, |, |||

“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…

Read more