Details
DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION OF BLOGS: 30 November 2020
ELIGIBILITY: Must be a citizen of, and currently living in, a sub-Saharan African country and be between 18 and 28 years old on 30 November 2020.
TOPIC: How can young people work with their governments and civil society organisations to respond to the impact of COVID-19 and build a stronger post-pandemic economic and social system?
CONTACT: Blog4Dev
Blog4Dev@worldbank.org
Earlier this year, the whole world came to a standstill as COVID-19 (coronavirus) rapidly spread across the globe. In an attempt to combat the pandemic, the world went into lockdown; schools closed, production chains stopped, social life was disrupted, and people retreated into their homes. Everything changed.
Today, the scope of the pandemic and its devastating effects on people and economies is staggering. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), as of 8 October, there had been 36 million confirmed cases globally, of which 1.2 million were in Africa.
The president of the World Bank Group, David Malpass, recently recognised the unique nature of the COVID-19 crisis during its annual virtual meetings.
"The COVID-19 pandemic is a crisis like no other. Its toll has been enormous and people in the poorest countries are likely to suffer longer and longer," he said. "The pandemic has taken lives and disrupted livelihoods in every corner of the world. It has tipped more economies into simultaneous recession than at any time since 1870. And it could lead to the first wave of a lost decade burdened by weak growth, a collapse in many health and education systems and excessive debt."
Although the figures show that African countries appear to have been relatively spared compared to other regions of the world, the socio-economic impact of the virus is nonetheless severe. In its analysis of the region's economic prospects, the World Bank's latest Pulse of Africa report projects that growth in sub-Saharan Africa will contract by -3.3% in 2020, pushing the continent into its first economic recession in 25 years. The pandemic could also push 40 million Africans into extreme poverty, erasing at least five years of progress in poverty reduction efforts.
Furthermore, the WHO warns that "COVID-19 will not be the world's last health emergency and there is an urgent need for sustainable health emergency preparedness to deal with the next one". It is therefore crucial that African countries not only effectively address the current health crisis, but also prepare for the next one. Many countries have already put in place measures to save lives, protect livelihoods and build a stronger future.
In an effort to find a common solution to a common challenge, we would also like to hear the opinions of young Africans on the COVID-19 response. Based on the situation in your country, answer the following question:
How can young people work with their governments and civil society organisations to respond to the impact of COVID-19 and build a stronger post-pandemic economic and social system?
The winning authors are eligible for various prizes, including an invitation to take part in a dedicated programme during the World Bank-IMF Spring Meetings 2021 (if the health situation improves), opportunities to represent Africa's youth at high-level events, a chance to intern in a World Bank country office or an opportunity to have their blog published on the World Bank's Youth Transforming Africa blog.
