Episode 17: Covid-19 - Africa

So far, Africa appears to have been spared the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic. The virus is certainly spreading more slowly across the continent than elsewhere in the world. On this week’s Agenda Podcast with Stephen Cole we examine exactly why that might be, as well as considering what the economic effect will be on a continent where trade has been increasing and poverty falling for the past decade.

First on the podcast we talk to the World Health Organization&aposs regional director for Africa, Matshidiso Moeti, who says the continent’s case numbers are under-reported.

She also takes us through the timeline of Africa’s response to the crisis and explains why the virus hasn’t moved as quickly there as it did in other parts of the world [03:20]. And we learn why it&aposs important to understand the other priorities African countries have at the moment, as they address them alongside the coronavirus [06.39]. 

Stephen also talks to Dirk Willem te Velde from the Overseas Development Institute, who explains the economic impact of COVID-19 on sub-Saharan Africa – and what richer countries such as the UK, U.S. and China should be doing to help [14:55]. Te Velde also tells us why development gains could disappear after a long period of economic growth across the continent [17:32].