Support resources during the COVID-19 outbreak

by | Apr 7, 2020 | COVID19

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is having significant repercussions on civil society organisations and the people they support. As the coronavirus continues to spread, we are supporting our members and partners to stay informed, adapt their programmes and keep their organisations safe. We are extremely concerned about the impact of the outbreak, both in terms of everyone’s well-being and the ripple effect on our sector more broadly. We will continue monitoring the situation closely, clarifying key issues, and updating this page as the crisis unfolds and more information becomes available.

In these challenging and uncertain times, we thank our members for sending us information and updates, which help us to stay informed and represent the needs and interests of European civil society working in international development in the best way that we can. We express our solidarity with all of you and hope that you are finding new ways to stay connected and resilient. We wish you strength and good health.

 

Impacts on our sector

 

We are shaping EU plans for recovery:

We are sharing knowledge:

We are sharing knowledge on the transformations we want to see in society and in our sector. Our Director contributed a thought piece for ICVA’s latest publication on the importance of civil society coming together to stimulate critical thinking, offer solutions, foster active citizenship and call for a transformation of our political, economic and financial systems.

We are closely monitoring the impact of the coronavirus on EU policy cycles:

We have compiled a list of adopted special measures for EU official meetings and voting procedures with an analysis of how these may impact international development and Agenda 2030, as well as the involvement and consultation of civil society organisations.

We are connecting with the media to provide our expertise:

  • Our Director commented on the EU’s communication on the global response to fight the pandemic in a Devex article.
  • Our Policy & Advocacy Officer spoke to The Guardian on the EU’s plans to reallocate existing funds for the global coronavirus crisis response.
  • Our colleague Zuzana Sládková spoke to Devex about how development aid budgets possibly falling due to COVID-19 in the future underscores the need to support local NGOs.

Support for our members

We are holding webinars on a range of COVID-19 related topics to discuss arising needs and concerns of members, share information and resources, and coordinate responses to the crisis:

  • Webinar on measures for national CSOs
  • Webinar on the impact of the coronavirus on inequalities
  • Webinar for communications professionals in our membership on coordinating responses and campaigns

We are calling on DEVCO and NEAR to exercise flexibility and understanding as the COVID-19 outbreak will necessitate reprioritisation and adjustments in programming and outreach activities by civil society organisations.

  • We are connecting with EU officials to raise our members’ practical concerns related to the challenges they are facing in the implementation of projects DEVCO/NEAR projects due to the spread of COVID-19. We wrote a letter to Director-General Koen Doens and Director-General Christian Danielsson seeking guidance.
  • Together with our members, we carried out an in-depth overview of the main risks to the development and the implementation of EU-funded projects on a global scale. Based on our analysis, we compiled key recommendations for maintaining continuity of DEVCO/NEAR projects that allow for flexibility, ownership, coherence and coordination.
  • We welcomed the specific guidance and flexibility received from DG ECHO regarding current projects and proposals. We have been in touch with DEVCO and NEAR about the need for timely guidance and a consistent approach across EU contracting authorities in dealing with project development and grant implementation. Having received a first response from the European Commission, we are now working to clarify some outstanding issues of concern.
  • We welcomed the letter from the Chairs of the European Parliament Committees on Foreign Affairs, Development and Budgets and echo their call for the use of unallocated funds to finance new measures related to the COVID-19 pandemic, so as not to de-prioritise poverty reduction and other development goals.

Resources from our members

ADRA EU:

CARE International:

  • COVID-19 advocacy paper
  • The Global Rapid Gender Analysis (launched together with IRC)
  • Paper on the gender implications of COVID-19 outbreaks in humanitarian and development setting
  • Balancing measures to contain COVID-19 with basic survival needs in low-resource contexts: A call for a localized and gender-responsive approach
  • Paper on COVID-19, Food & Nutrition Security, and Gender Equality
  • Policy brief on Gender-based Violence and COVID-19: The Complexities of Responding to “The Shadow Pandemic”
  • Paper on the Implications of COVID-19 on Women’s and Girls’ Economic Justice and Rights
  • Where are the Women? The Conspicuous Absence of Women in COVID-19 Response Teams and Plans, and Why We Need Them
  • Recommendations for a Climate-Resilient, Sustainable and Just COVID-19 Response and Recovery

CONCORD Sweden:

Humanity & Inclusion:

International Planned Parenthood Federation: 

Oxfam EU:

Plan International:

VENRO:

Women Engage for a Common Future: 

World Vision: