Pivoting During A Global Pandemic: The Impact of COVID in the Development Workplace
CIDC members by their very nature are skilled at adapting to the ever-changing nature of overseas development requirements. As such, they were well-positioned with the right technologies and policies already in place to cope with the demands the current pandemic produced. Similarly, as this crisis begins to abate, they are already prepared with needed adaptations to the new post-COVID world.
The far-reaching effects of COVID-19 on developing countries are immeasurable. We may never truly know the full effect that this pandemic has had on many parts of the world. At its peak, it is estimated that 1.5 billion students were out of school due to the pandemic – and, regrettably, some 11 million girls may never return to their classrooms when the global crisis ends. More than 70 countries postponed their elections. The impact of this pandemic has been magnified by the challenges of natural disasters, regional conflicts, and the effects of climate change. And the pandemic continues to take its toll. India had nearly 19 million cases and more than 200,000 deaths, Mexico has suffered with 3.1 million cases and nearly 220,000 deaths.
These catastrophic results challenged donors and development implementers to discover new, innovative, and effective ways to immediately respond to this unprecedented global pandemic to save lives. USAID development implementers were able to respond rapidly through their onthe-ground programming, utilizing in-country staff, local partnerships and ingenuity. Creative Associates International, pivoted in ways it had never thought to do before. In Morocco, the USAID Reading for Success – National Program for Reading focused on in-school early grade education. When schools closed, it did not want learning to stop. It quickly curated a collection of 100 colorful, age-appropriate, and interactive stories. Reading for Success program forged a partnership between the Moroccan Ministry of Education and the Dubai-based Assafeer Digital Library to develop the country’s first digital reading platform dedicated exclusively to elementary school learners. The pandemic is also causing tremendous economic havoc around the world – with small and medium enterprises in developing countries feeling the effects most directly. Global Mamas, a Ghana-based fair-trade enterprise that works with women across Ghana to create and sell handcrafted products, suffered a 90 percent loss in domestic retail sales and a 40 percent loss in global sales because of the pandemic. Fortunately, it was one of the first recipients of a COVID-19 rapid response grant from the USAID West Africa Trade and Investment Hub. Global Mamas applied for and received a $497,000 grant, which leveraged $2 million of private funding that stabilized the business and staving off layoffs and economic hardship. Within a few weeks of the pandemic hitting Africa, the USAID/OTI Nigeria Lake Chad Basin program mobilized resources to boost household income, raise awareness of the disease and reduce tensions. For example, the program previously trained war widows and victims of Boko Haram in Northeastern Nigeria the basics of sewing and selling their work to provide a more reliable sources of household income. When COVID-19 struck, the OTI program engaged some 40 women to pool their tailoring skills to produce high-quality face masks – which were in short supply in the region. With support and funding by the OTI program, more than 51,000 non-medical cloth masks had been delivered and distributed by state officials to high-risk residents, including people with disabilities, transit workers and market vendors. The pandemic did not just create new issues; it exacerbated old ones. Pre-existing situations did not just pause. Indeed, at-risk populations became more vulnerable. Addressing these concerns became a priority for many funders and program implementers. Guatemala saw a rise in domestic violence, especially in its rural communities, as curfews and other measures kept people at home. The USAID Peacebuilding Project – which focuses on social conflict dynamics as they pertain to gender, youth and families, governance, land and natural resources – picked up on this dangerous spike. The program, known as Proyecto Tejiendo Paz, quickly stepped in with a multifaceted approach. One component it leveraged was an activity called “comprehensive conversations,” which are live events that use trusted leaders to guide discussions to address domestic and gender-based abuse. It was so-well received, the Guatemalan government picked it up for use nationally. Conclusion
The pandemic reminds development professionals that there is no “normal” in our line of work. Even without a pandemic, to appropriately support communities and advance donors’ goals, flexibility and ingenuity are required. Throughout this pandemic, USAID implementing companies have demonstrated those and many other skills to save lives. Leland Kruvant, President & CEO, Creative Associates International CIDC Chair
