COVID-19 Response and Resilience of Cooperatives in Africa.

Background

COVID-19 was first detected in China in December  2019 and since declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on 30^th January 2020 by the World Health Organization.

As it continues to spread exponentially, this novel virus threatens to become one of the most difficult tests faced by humanity in modern history. It has the potential to take lives, overwhelm health systems, and trigger lasting geopolitical change. The International Monetary Fund says the global economy now faces its worst downturn since the Great Depression. The latest ILO data on the labour market impact of the COVID-19 pandemic reveals the devastating effect on workers in the informal economy and on hundreds of millions of enterprises worldwide in Cooperatives.

Cooperatives Response to Covid-19.

Cooperatives, as economic enterprises and as self-help organizations, play a meaningful role in uplifting the socio-economic conditions of their members and their local communities at all times; including crisis periods.

Over the years, cooperatives have shown resilience during periods of war, financial and other crises. For instance, the financial crisis that was characterized by public bail out of private, investor-owned banks, underlined the virtues of a customer-owned cooperative banking system. It was also recorded that cooperative banks and savings and credit cooperatives are better able to withstand the banking crisis and economic recession than the investor-owned banks.

Other cooperatives like those in the agricultural and marketing cooperatives continue to show resilience in the fight against food insecurity, poverty reduction, employment creation and safety net provision.

The Cooperative community inspired by its principles and values is therefore obligated to join efforts with other key stakeholders to first help with mitigating the spread of this disruptive Covid-19 outbreak and the implementation of recovery strategies. The cooperative movement across the world has been severely affected and in different ways depending on the sectors and the stage of the virus in respective regions or countries.

In Africa, it is anticipated that the pandemic will expose the livelihoods of most people, especially rural marginalized groups. It is imperative for cooperatives in Africa to find effective ways in responding to these unprecedented challenges.

General Objective

The general objective of this webinar is to bring government officials, cooperative leaders and other stakeholders in the forum to deliberate on how best cooperatives can continue to adapt and be resilient towards the Covid-19 pandemic and its effects. The webinar will bring in regional perspectives by the regional board members on key cooperative sectors and practical cases from other regions  as they deal with the pandemic.

Specific Objectives

• To identify potential synergies, issues and opportunities for African Cooperatives emanating from the Covid-19 pandemic.
• To share knowledge that enables Cooperatives and other stakeholders in Africa to engage effectively in mitigation and recovery strategies  
• To spur Cooperatives in Africa, to continue responding to the new era presented by Covid-19.

Expected Outcomes

• Potential synergies, issues, and opportunities for African Cooperatives emanating from the Covid-19 pandemic are identified.
• Knowledge that enables Cooperatives and stakeholders in Africa to engage effectively in mitigation and recovery strategies is shared.
• Cooperatives in Africa encouraged to continue responding to the new era presented by Covid-19.

Webinar Programme