At times, a crisis brings out the best in us, and COVID-19 is no different. Many African countries responded to COVID-19 proactively, instituting lockdowns and restrictions early in the transmission cycle. Early actions saved lives and “bought time” for governments to acquire personal protective equipment and ventilators and prepare medical facilities. The sheer scope and urgency of the COVID-19 pandemic have also spurred some groundbreaking public-private partnership responses from the continent. An example of an innovative public-private partnership is the African Medical Supply Platform. The platform is a collaboration between the African Union, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, the Economic Commission for Africa, and a range of private sector companies including bioMérieux, Novartis, Royal Philips and others. The platform alleviates supply and logistical constraints by ensuring efficient and rapid access to a group of pandemic medicines. This online marketplace enables the supply of critical COVID-19-related medical equipment. Another example of an innovative public-private partnership is the African Communication and Information Platform. The service can reach up to 600 million mobile users across the continent with health information and short surveys for economic and health action. With government approvals, Airtel, MTN, Orange and Vodafone are providing the service at no charge to mobile users. But there is no denying the overall effects of the pandemic and economic crisis are deep.
The pandemic’s worst impacts are felt within the informal sector, which accounts for more than 60% of the workforce and includes some of the most vulnerable in society.
With almost 2 million cases and more than 47 000 deaths from COVID-19 in Africa (as of 14 November 2020), the effects of the pandemic have been devastating. Lower vaccination rates, suspension of health programmes, loss of livelihood and food insecurity resulting from the knock-on effects will be felt for years to come. The pandemic’s worst impacts are felt within the informal sector, which accounts for more than 60% of the workforce and includes some of the most vulnerable in society. As lockdowns, restrictions on goods and services, and the worst recession in a quarter of a century unfold, those without savings, extended family resources or social support – disproportionately women and children – are struck the hardest. The broader effects of the pandemic affect the most vulnerable and therefore, much of the impact is hidden from view and hard to measure. Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030 has suddenly become much more challenging, as has achieving Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want.
There have been some clear wins. And yet, the overwhelming nature of the pandemic coupled with an impact that, though catastrophic, is not obvious (e.g. overflowing hospitals) paradoxically result in a hesitancy to take action. Here are three things that must be done now to arrest the backsliding from the SDGs and Agenda 2063.
First, it is necessary to bridge the deep infrastructure gap and facilitate the development of a thriving industrial sector. Prior to COVID-19, it was estimated that USD 93 billion a year was needed. This number has undoubtedly gone up. For critical foundational areas such as health, education, agriculture and commerce, domestic resource mobilisation in combination with external financing are required. However, given the new realities of physical distancing and the need for efficiencies, the situation highlights the urgency of applying the benefits of digital technologies, designed and customised for the local environment and ecosystem. Also, financing on a regional and multilateral basis must consider the different fiscal situations that countries are in. Second, a broad range of public-private partnerships can be directed towards outcomes that address real needs. African countries need to implement policies and robust institutional frameworks to stimulate the full use of private capital in infrastructure development. One example of this is the Model Law for Transboundary Infrastructure in Africa. Finally, with small and medium‑sized enterprises (SMEs) providing the productive backbone and up to 80% of formal jobs in Africa, we must look beyond the single mega-projects and provide broad capital and ecosystem support to local microenterprises and SMEs. The full development of the eCommerce protocol of the African Continental Free Trade Area will be a crucial mechanism for accomplishing this. The Decade of Action to deliver the SDGs states, “The spirit of human endeavor has demonstrated our shared ability to deliver the extraordinary.” Together, we can build back better.
