The global community is fighting a common enemy that threatens the very lives of people, especially those who are elderly or have serious pre-existing health conditions. COVID-19 is a global pandemic that “was first reported on 31 December 2019 by World health Organization country office following a cluster of pneumonia cases in Wuhan City, Hubei Province of China…To date, COVID-19 has become a global pandemic and it is continuing to spread across the globe” (https://www.nicd.ac.za/diseases-a-z-index/covid-19/).
Various countries have implemented lockdown regulations to try reduce the threat of COVID-19. As the pandemic spreads it is placing tremendous strain on health services while also impacting upon businesses, employment and economies.
The social accountability sector has also been affected, as interventions that require stakeholder interaction have to be postponed or adapted to use online platforms where available. Material to assist CSO’s and practitioners to better manage their work during these times of crisis is being sought. This page seeks to share credible material/papers/FAQ’s relating to COVID-19 and what its impacts will require of CSO’s.
For more information, please scroll down to view material that is circulating regarding COVID-19. Please feel free to share any information that would be useful to CSOs in managing the crisis.
- https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/opinionista/2020-09-17-economic-growth-and-consumption-cannot-go-on-forever-on-a-finite-planet-a-change-is-needed/. An article about the need for change, as our current pursuits are not sustainable and detrimental to the planet.
- https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/aug/05/deadly-diseases-from-wildlife-thrive-when-nature-is-destroyed-study-finds. A study found that nature is not so forgiving afterall, when it feels threatened, it retaliates.
- https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/opinionista/2020-07-27-the-corresponding-crises-of-covid-19-and-climate-change-an-opportunity-for-structural-changes/#gsc.tab=0. This article offers a different perspective of the Covid-19 crisis, with regards to opportunities for climate change initiatives.
- https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2020-07-07-who-acknowledges-evidence-emerging-of-airborne-spread-of-covid-19/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=First%20Thing%20Wednesday%208%20July%202020%20Workshop17&utm_content=First%20Thing%20Wednesday%208%20July%202020%20Workshop17+CID_8c1210371966e1cbf48fdf10d855a551&utm_source=TouchBasePro&utm_term=WHO%20admits%20evidence%20pointing%20to%20airborne%20Covid-19%20spread#gsc.tab=0. An article highlighting that WHO might be acknowledging that the virus might be airborne.
- https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2020-07-06-covid-19-a-terrifying-glimpse-of-a-future-where-overpopulation-and-climate-crisis-overwhelm-earth/#gsc.tab=0. An article warning of the consequences of the climate crisis.
- https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/opinionista/2020-07-06-our-nuclear-legacy-is-a-dangerous-distraction-from-energy-security-for-all-south-africans/#gsc.tab=o . An article that talks to the diversion of public funds during covid to nuclear energy.
- https://www.grocotts.co.za/2020/05/27/a-link-between-communities-and-the-government/. An article produced by PSAM staff on the dynamics between the duty bearers and the community during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- https://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/the-public-service-accountability-monitor-says-reopening-of-e-cape-schools-is-not-feasible/. An article about why sending children back to school in South Africa during COVID-19 should be reconsidered.
- ENDORSED Open Letter to SADC Secretariat_22 May 2020.docx The letter was written by members of the community of practice of social accountability practitioners in Sub Saharan Africa. Directed to African Governance to re-imagine africa’s Future by taking decisive action to protect livelihoods and tackle COVID 19.
- TheContinentIssue6_COVID Pandemic A report containing lessons learnt from contexts with the highest success rate in dealing with COVID 19
- https://africacdc.org/covid-19/. Latest updates on the coronavirus coming from the Africa CDC site.
- https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/04/this-is-the-psychological-side-of-the-covid-19-pandemic-that-were-ignoring/. Wothwhile read on the psychological impact of the strains of lockdown and quarantine.
- https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/latest-covid-19-coronavirus-coverage/. News covering the spread of COVID-19 and the responses of different players.
- https://sacoronavirus.co.za/. The South African Government created a portal with COVID-19 related information, as per the link above.
- https://www.ndi.org/our-stories/parliaments-respond-covid-19. Parliaments across the world have deployed resources as a response to the threat of the pandemic. This article highlights a few of these initiatives.
- https://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Issues/Executions/HumanRightsDispatch1.pdf. Guidance on the use of force by law-enforcement personnel in time of COVID-19 emergency
- https://www.idi.no/en/covid-19-paper. This paper contains information around how accountability can be conducted during a crisis, learning from previous crises.
- https://www.ipu.org/parliaments-in-time-pandemic. This site contains links on how parliaments in some countries are facilitating emergency measures.
- https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/05/how-to-fight-the-covid-19-infodemic-lessons-from-3-asian-countries/. The spread of misinformation related to COVID-19 has been raising concerns, especially on social media and other online platforms. This link contains lessons learnt in Asia by countries which have been trying to combat the spread of misinformation.
- https://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=25802&LangID=E. The UN Human Rights Experts call for the observation of human rights during the COVID-19 emergency measures, especially since there is an increasing number of reported use of force incidents towards the most vulnerable.
- https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/03/19/human-rights-dimensions-covid-19-response. This link contains a document which provides an overview of human rights concerns posed by the coronavirus outbreak, drawing on examples of government responses to date, and recommends ways governments and other actors can respect human rights in their response.
- https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2020-05-04-a-guide-to-helping-those-protecting-others-during-the-pandemic/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Coronavirus%20special%20edition%204%20May%202020&utm_content=Coronavirus%20special%20edition%204%20May%202020+CID_d03c77a10d9319ad8bfa7c52642bd2ff&utm_source=TouchBasePro&utm_term=A%20silver%20lining
- https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2020-05-04-want-to-be-a-covid-19-survivor-check-your-comorbidities/
- https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2020-05-05-actuaries-warn-ramaphosa-of-a-humanitarian-disaster-to-dwarf-covid-19-if-restrictive-lockdown-is-not-lifted/
- https://www.groundup.org.za/article/covid-19-report-1-understanding-most-important-science-past-week/
- https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/27/halt-destruction-nature-worse-pandemics-top-scientists
- The official South African COVID-19 website has been made 100% data free. Please go to https://coronavirus.datafree.co for updates. Please do not follow information from uninformed resources and individuals.
- https://mg.co.za/article/2020-04-20-locked-up-or-lazy-local-and-provincial-representatives-are-nowhere-to-be-seen/
- https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2020-04-23-the-path-of-ramaphosas-letter-for-major-sandf-deployment-raises-serious-concerns-around-separation-of-powers/
- https://www.open-contracting.org/what-is-open-contracting/covid19/
- https://kenya.actionaid.org/publications/accountability-emergencies-resource-book-0
- http://eprhandbook.actionaid.org/section7/accountability-in-emergencies/
- https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2020-04-21-health-minister-calls-up-specialist-team-to-help-as-eastern-cape-numbers-keep-rising/
- 200421 C19 South African President’s Message FINAL
- https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/opinionista/2020-04-19-will-covid-19-put-us-right-with-nature/
- https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/opinionista/2020-04-21-covid-19-gives-us-a-chance-to-plot-a-new-global-path-and-to-give-planet-earth-a-breather/
- https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/opinionista/2020-04-20-lack-of-adequate-economic-responses-to-covid-19-poses-a-mortal-threat-to-sas-constitutional-democracy/
- https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/opinionista/2020-04-20-post-covid-19-recovery-fiscal-stimulus-must-include-more-renewables-in-sas-energy-plans/
- Center for Women’s Global Leadership, webinar on the Gendered Impact of the Covid-19 Crisis: Holding Governments to Account. Please click here to see the recording of the webinar.
- A preliminary list of feminist resources on Covid-19
- A follow up by ACTIONAID’s on agriculture extension services and how our core issues will be affected by covid-19 yesterday – please see a useful brief from FAO – this would be useful to build into our advocacy plans around agriculture. http://www.fao.org/3/ca8710en/CA8710EN.pdf
- The MacArthur Foundation shared their Coronavirus Guidance which they are using to inform decisions over meetings, travel etc and which may be a useful starting point for organisations that need to adapt and take preventative action to prevent the spread of the virus in their contexts: https://www.macfound.org/pages/coronavirus-guidance/?utm_source=T%2FAI+Newsletter+List&utm_campaign=ef64350e03-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2018_12_18_05_33_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1a5ff28f1e-ef64350e03-431571057
- https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019 provides regular updated public advice, country and technical guidance, mythbusters and FAQs amongst other content.
- https://medium.com/@dalgoso/welcome-to-peak-uncertainty-population-you-and-your-team-7e05fc729493 – article by Dave Algoso that offers guidance on How does one think—let alone plan, or act—during a global crisis?
- https://www.odi.org/blogs/16779-covid-19-five-lessons-ebola – entitled: Covid-19: five lessons from Ebola
- https://blog-pfm.imf.org/pfmblog/2020/03/preparing-public-financial-management-systems-to-meet-covid-19-challenges.html
