Community responses to the COVID-19 pandemic in eastern and southern Africa 

The COVID-19 pandemic made it clear that community-based organizations (CBOs) were on the front lines of the emergency response helping their communities deal with crises.   

If we are to ensure that communities weather future crises – from pandemics to climate change-related droughts and floods – how can funders support CBOs’ role?  

Some important answers are among the key insights that our CBO partners share in Firelight’s new report, Community experiences and responses during the COVID-19 pandemic in eastern and southern Africa.   

Indeed, CBOs indicated that additional resources in the following areas would help them support communities in future crises:  

  • Planning for greater community and organizational resiliency;  

  • Use of communications tools and technologies to effectively collaborate with community members;   

  • Creation of an emergency contingency fund.  

We believe the report’s direct community insights offer an important window into what it takes to support communities through future crises.  

 

We warmly invite you to read the report summary. 

Firelight