Many of our projects are aimed at combating poverty and contributing to sustainable development in East Africa. Upon seeing the progression of the pandemic and its initial consequences in Spain, we contacted the project managers with whom we are involved in Uganda to ask them how they saw the situation and what we could do for them.
The outbreak is spreading at a slower rate in the African continent with respect to the rest of the world. Specifically, in Uganda, 97 coronavirus infections have been confirmed to date, as explained in this La Vanguardia article. There, the government has implemented various measures to contain the virus's spread, including closing borders, restricting movement, and suspending classes, among other actions.
One of the projects we support from OVF is Shona, an accelerator aiming to strengthen Uganda's social entrepreneurship ecosystem by boosting companies working for the sustainable development of their communities. Its CEO, Joachim Ewechu, says he is satisfied with the government's measures to curb the spread of the virus, and tells us that Uganda already had experience in similar situations due to the Ebola outbreaks that have taken place in the country in recent years, although he believes they must not be complacent and must remain vigilant, as the country's healthcare infrastructure is insufficient.
Furthermore, despite the Ugandan government's actions to prevent the spread of the virus appearing to yield results, it must not be forgotten that containment measures have serious socioeconomic consequences on the day-to-day lives of very many people. Many Ugandan families who depend on their daily earnings for a living are suffering greatly, as they are unable to generate any income.
This is precisely what they are also telling us from África Directo, an organisation with which We have been supporting projects in Uganda for years.. “We must not minimise the consequences of the pandemic in these countries; many people are at risk due to the lack of economic activity stemming from the restrictions to contain the spread of the virus,” states José María Márquez, the organisation's director.
This is what is happening to people who depend on street vending and live off daily profits, who have been left with nothing., as Guillermo Arribas, a volunteer for África Directo in the country, recounts. Furthermore, the virus has also affected many businesses, and it is estimated that 40% have been forced to close, resulting in job losses.
At the same time, NGOs have found their activities limited due to containment measures, although Africa Directo has managed to adapt quickly to the situation, reaching an agreement with government authorities to continue carrying out activities that are crucial and fundamental for people, such as those related to food and health.
From SHONA, Joachim tells us, they have also been able to adapt their services to continue meeting needs at this time. They are supporting many people, providing them with free support to develop business continuity plans and carrying out training sessions on financial management and business restructuring. They are also paying attention to the social enterprises they support, focusing on their specific needs during this period. Some businesses have to continue because they provide essential services, while others have been forced to reduce their working hours or lay off their employees.
Despite all these circumstances, what has most caught Joachim's attention has been the continued optimism of some of these entrepreneurs, who continue to see and seek new opportunities for their businesses during this time.
Looking ahead, we want to join Joachim and the Ugandan social entrepreneurs and maintain optimism. Following the control of the epidemic's spread, its economic impact needs to be addressed. We hope that, over the coming weeks, the lockdown will be eased and the economy will begin to recover so that all individuals and families who have been hit by the crisis can move forward.
