During 2020, the Covid-19 virus arrived in Africa later than the rest of the world and with lower rates than in other parts of the world. However, the pandemic threatened to push back Africa’s development and the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The lack of safe water in some areas and community transmission are also a challenge in some African countries.

At the same time, there had been some interesting initiatives from entrepreneurs and locals who had been finding new business ideas and solutions to the challenges of the pandemic.

Beyond the emergency to fight Covid-19 and its associated short term socio-economic impact, there is a need to support innovative ideas and development projects that build up future resilience.

During 2020 and into 2021, we have been asking local journalists to talk about the challenges and opportunities that the Corona virus has brought to their countries. We have been looking for the stories that identify what are the urgent priority responses to the lack of job security and personal savings that could help during times of crisis. Other stories are linked to heathcare and the lack of safe water and basic hygiene-sanitation products such as soap. This crisis also highlighted the digital gap in education and daily life due to the lack of connection sometimes and the high prices of wifi and phone companies.

Covid-19 also gave an opportunity to accelerate the needed economic reforms in Africa for long-term development. 

In 2021, we will ask local journalists from different African countries to let us know about the situation there so that policy makers, NGOs and companies have more information to make important decisions for the present and the future.