Dossier

EU-Africa relations in times of Covid-19

The uneven distribution of Covid-19 vaccines is one of the main discussion points at EU-African Union summit on 17-18 February 2022. Two years into the pandemic, about 75% of the EU’s population has already received at least one vaccine dose, while on the African continent only 16% have been jabbed. The sustained pandemic not only affects the public health conditions but also African economies, societies and political stability. This dossier sheds light on the impacts of Covid-19 on African countries and offers ways forward for a green, inclusive and feminist recovery.

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Featured

Covid-19 pandemic, vaccine distribution and global justice: the story so far

We are experiencing two very different pandemic realities between low-income and high-income countries. Unfortunately, instead of seeking a solidarity-based response, the international community has once again demonstrated its disunity in this health crisis. The task now is to regain credibility and rebuild trust.

Barbara Unmüßig

Why won’t Germany support a Covid-19 vaccine waiver? Anna Cavazzini answers this and more ahead of the EU-AU summit

Four civil society representatives ask MEP Anna Cavazzini (Greens/EFA) about the Covid-19 vaccine patent waiver, as the wane of some countries’ Omicron winters poses a new threat to global vaccine equity.

Laura Lopez Gonzalez

Ill feeling between continents ahead of the EU-AU summit

The travel restrictions imposed by the European Union on people traveling from southern Africa after the discovery of the Omicron variant, will potentially have a long-term impact on the EU-AU relations.

Dr. Melanie Müller

The French “meanwhile” on vaccine equity

While nearly 82% of Europeans are fully vaccinated, this is the case for just 11% of Africans. This vaccine gap could overshadow discussions between the heads of state of the two continents at the summit to be held in Brussels on 17 and 18 February between the European Union and the African Union. France, which currently holds the Presidency of the Council of the EU, has been called upon to act to waive patents on Covid-19 vaccines. Emmanuel Macron is the champion of the “global licence” project.

Nicolas Kirilowits

Map of Africa and Europe connected with the yellow line

EU-Africa: A close and intense relationship

The need for equal EU-African relations, the importance of recognising the historical background and what Europe can learn from Africa.

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Covid-19 vaccines in Africa

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No one is safe until everyone is safe - Global perspectives on Covid-19 vaccination

There is well-founded hope that widespread vaccination against Covid-19 will bring the long-awaited pandemic relief. Much now depends on ensuring rapid and broad access to vaccines globally. Against this background, the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung has commissioned a series of short country and regional studies written by authors from the Global South and East. This dossier sheds light on the status of vaccination campaigns in different countries worldwide.

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Covid-19 Vaccine Distribution in South Africa

Health inequality increased sixfold in South Africa under COVID-19, suggesting that the crisis affected the health of the poor far more than the relatively well-off. Race is not a significant predictor of vaccine hesitancy, but trusting social media as an information source is positively correlated with vaccine hesitancy. South Africa has pushed hard against opposition to the proposal for a waiver of IP for Covid-19 technologies at the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

Lauren Paremoer, Leslie London

Lauren Paremoer (Peoples Health Movement South Africa) on Covid-19 vaccine distribution

Covid-19 vaccine access - South Africa

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Democratising vaccine and its production: A perspective from India and South Africa

The “scandalous inequity” in COVID 19 vaccines exposes acutely and in distinct ways the structural cleavages in our global health system. With the Global North having siphoned much of the available vaccines, the Global South pays heavily with lives and livelihoods. Civil society experts from India and South Africa unpack the waiver proposal and highlight intersecting ways that vaccine power regimes further existing gender and social inequities in developing countries.

Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung Regional Office - New Delhi

Multilateralism and Covid-19

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Africa’s free-trade area signals intent for a new kind of relationship with the EU

The momentous African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which went into effect on 1 January 2021, demonstrates the continent’s desire to carve its own economic destiny. But as Africa’s biggest trading partner, the European Union’s actions will have a strong impact on the project’s chances of success. The EU’s historical record suggests it would benefit from more serious listening to what its African partners want on trade.

Dr. Olumide Abimbola

Could South Africa, spurred by Covid-19, drive more equitable global trade norms?

Major multilateral institutions have long claimed that their market-oriented trade rules reduce poverty and advance development. Instead, they hold back the developing world from a more human-centric, social-justice approach that it needs to reach its potential. South Africa has the potential to set an example of how a global “middle power” can drive change. The Covid-19 pandemic has provided extra impetus – and a test.

Arina Muresan, Sanusha Naidu

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Mobilizing resources urgently for climate action: overcoming longstanding challenges and learning from Covid-19

The Covid-19 pandemic has shown that countries can marshal significant resources quickly and at scale in an emergency. The climate crisis requires no less. Only when longstanding issues of climate finance are resolved, can the international system ensure that the poorest and most vulnerable people, communities, and countries can make the necessary changes the whole world needs.

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Divided we fail - Vaccine diplomacy and its implications

No country is safe from COVID-19 until all countries are safe from COVID-19. To state the obvious: To overcome a pandemic of this magnitude, vaccines must be made available quickly, cheaply, and fairly.

Barbara Unmüßig, Dr. Alexandra Sitenko

Covid-19 impacts in African countries

Covid-19 in the Global South - Nigeria

Covid-19 Pandemic Case Study: Nigeria

In Nigeria, the healthcare system was not prepared for the Covid-19 pandemic. Read more about how the pandemic affected a country where more than half the population lacks access to primary medical care while Nigerian doctors seek employment abroad.

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Covid-19 Pandemic Case Study: Morocco

What are the impacts of the pandemic in Morocco? The main challenge ahead is economic recovery: getting the economy back on track, regenerating jobs, and attracting investments are at the top of the government’s priorities.

Egypt today: Covid-19 on top of repression, repression on top of Covid-19

Amidst the Covid-19 crisis in Egypt, a recent chain of events reveals the systemic violence that the regime of President al-Sisi exerts. To address those developments, what’s behind them and how international actors might respond to them, we are speaking with Amr Magdi, Middle East researcher at Human Rights Watch.

Johannes Gunesch

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How coronavirus has worsened the plight of refugees in Tunisia

In the shadows of the Covid-19-crisis, refugees and irregular migrants in Europe’s neighbouring countries are afraid for their very existence and terrified of long-term detention in reception camps. In Tunisia, political provisions are being put into place and emergency plans negotiated to deal with migrants and refugees on their way to Europe.

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Corona crisis in South Africa: Hand-washing in townships?

With only three day notice, South Africa went into full lockdown on the night from 26 to 27 March. What happened in the three days leading up the lockdown is highly impressive. Instead of everyone following the instinct of making provision for themselves, neighbourhood solidarity networks sprang up spontaneously.

Lagos, Nigeria

Nigeria's oil prices and the Covid-19 pandemic: A Dual Challenge

Nigeria stands at the very brink of its own COVID-19 epidemic. However, the country has been in the grips of serious crisis for weeks: the collapse in oil prices has led to brutal budget cuts and provokes a recession in the country, which depends heavily on oil exports. The timing could not be worse in view of the forthcoming pandemic challenges.

Jochen Luckscheiter

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Barbara Unmüßig: “The pandemic is deepening the divide"

The effects of the Covid-19 pandemic and the global economy are dramatic. The virus is shaking all major economies simultaneously. At the same time, the crisis is acting as an accelerator for the developing countries that were already highly in debt. An interview with Barbara Unmüßig, President of the Heinrich Böll Foundation, on the latest developments.

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Individual liberties in Tunisia during Covid-19: the crisis has only reinforced an existing problem

What are the challenges in Tunisia of deploying effective Covid-19 measures while remaining committed to the protection of individual rights and liberties for the whole period of the crisis? Mahassen Segni interviews Professor Wahid Ferchichi, founder of the Tunisian Association for the Defence of Individual Liberties.

Feminist views on Africa and Covid-19

Mind the gap

Covid-19: What will be the impact on gender inequality in Senegal?

On 2 March 2020, Senegal reported its first case of coronavirus. This new form of COVID-19 has spread around the globe, with the declaration of a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) on 11 March. The public health crisis is wreaking havoc upon all social and economic aspects of people’s lives in every corner of the world, including a notable impact on gender inequality.

How Non-Governmental Shelters Have Had to Adapt to a National State of Disaster

HBF's new research reveals the Department of Social Development’s dependence on NGO shelters during Covid-19, and their tendency not to provide adequate support and funding despite this reliance, writes the Daily Maverick.

Jen Thorpe (Smout)

Motherhood in the time of Coronavirus

The COVID-19 pandemic has heightened many of the challenges that mothers around the world face as the global health threat and resulting economic downturn have created a caregiving crisis that has disproportionately affected women and motherhood.

It is not only the virus that could kill us

The countrywide lockdown is necessary to curb the spread of Covid-19 but, for many, isolating in the home presents a more immediate, and dangerous, threat than falling victim to the disease.

Covid-19 and Africa's green transformation

Effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on food and agriculture in Africa

Senegal is not spared the consequences of Covid-19. How does Covid-19 change the conditions under which food is produced and traded? We take a closer look at food systems in Africa talked to an expert on sustainable development issues in rural areas.

The Impact of COVID-19 on Small-Scale Farmers in Nigeria

Mary Afan, president of the Small-Scale Women Farmers Organisation in Nigeria (SWOFON), talked to hbs about the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on small-scale farmers, government’s response and what could be done to help them weather the crisis.

After the Corona Pandemic is over Farmers should continue using Protective Equipment

Agriculture is one of the most hazardous occupations in Kenya. Farmers are exposed to many toxic chemicals such as pesticides. While pesticides are designed to be used for pests, they have ingredients that are highly toxic to human health.

Meat consumption: everyday food and luxury good

Meat Atlas 2021

The global demand for meat continues to rise due to economic and population growth, but at a slower pace than 10 years ago. Poultry accounts for an increasingly large share of consumption. Large differences remain in consumption per capita between countries and among population groups.

Tech and Covid-19 in Africa

In DR Congo, the challenge is convincing people that coronavirus exists

False news is a major threat to the Covid-19 response in DRC. Government distrust, lockdown, and increased social media access accelerate the spread of misinformation and disinformation in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Jean de Dieu Cirhigiri

How the pandemic kickstarted a health tech renaissance in Nigeria

Covid-19 has accelerated innovation in the Nigerian health tech sector, providing opportunities for growth in an industry that has typically lacked investment, government endorsement, and attention.

Ayodeji Rotinwa

Digitalisation and the coronavirus in Morocco: From care to control?

With a series of digital measures introduced in response to the coronavirus pandemic, Morocco is creating a trade-off between ways to provide rapid support and the parallel development of digital control.

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How Covid-19 is spurring civic tech in Senegal

As citizens in Senegal come together to fight misinformation and support healthcare workers, more participation demands more accountability.

Contact

Anna Schwarz

Anna Schwarz

Senior Programme Officer - Israel, Palestina, Egypt & Jordan, Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung, Berlin

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