In early 2020, the world was faced with an – until then – unknown virus: Covid-19. Same as the governmental reactions to the pandemic, its impact on the political and societal situation differ from country to country. These case studies shed light on the situation in Brazil, Kosovo, Morocco, Nigeria, the Philippines and Ukraine, focusing especially on the impacts to the health systems and democratic institutions and the situation of women and girls in the respective countries. A joint project of Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung Washington, DC and Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung European Union offices.
The Covid-19 pandemic in Brazil comes in the wake of the political polarisation that was accentuated in the 2014 presidential elections and the scientific denialism used by the current government of President Jair Bolsonaro. Experts estimate that the way the president handles the most serious health crisis in recent decades is a reflection of this scenario.
In Ukraine, especially vulnerable groups were hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. The situation has become even more challenging, considering the ongoing conflict in Eastern Ukraine and the unstable political system.
“In the midst of the pandemic, Kosovo became a country left with a caretaker government, crippled parliamentary competencies and entered a new political crisis” - An insight into the current situation in Kosovo.
With 2020 about to end, the buoyant picture of a surging Philippines economy has been replaced by the image of a country unable to find its way out of a terrible health and economic crisis.
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.
