Venue: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

WHAT: The Impact of COVID-19 Outbreak on Governance, Peace and Security in the Horn of Africa.

WHEN: Thursday, 30^th July, 2020

TIME: 15:30h – 17:00h East African Time (EAT)

WHERE: Register in advance for this webinar:

https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_QurpgH-zQ9qJfqU21I4_Ng

WHO: The Africa Union through the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(Africa CDC) and The Peace and Security in Partnership with the United Nation Development Programme(UNDP)

Moderator by: Dr Ahmed E. Ogwell OUMA, Deputy Director, Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC)

Speakers

Philliat Matsheza, Team Leader, Governance and Peacebuilding, UNDP Regional Service Center for Africa

Jide Okeke , Coordinator, Regional Programme for Africa, UNDP Regional Service Center for Africa

Ambassador Frederic Ngoga Gateretse , Head of Conflict Prevention and Early Warning Division, Peace and Security Department, African Union Commission

Ilwad Elmi Mohamed , Senior Policy Officer, Women’s Rights, Women Gender and Development Directorate

Mukondeleli Mpeiwa, Senior Policy Officer Mediation Support Unit and Coordinator Panel of the Wise & FemWise-Africa Secretariat

The objective of the technical webinar is to launch the first edition of the “Impact of the COVID-19 Outbreak on Governance, Peace and Security in the Horn of Africa”. The technical webinar intends to convene key stakeholders in the Horn of Africa to discuss regional perspective and responses.

Background Information

The novel corona virus disease (COVID-19) was first reported in the Horn of Africa region in March 2020, since its outbreak it has had a significant health and socio-economic implication. There have been drastic measures taken by States to curb the spread of the pandemic. Whilst the significant socio-economic impact of COVID-19 has been widely cited, the implication it may have on governance, peace and security has not fully been examined. It is against this backdrop that AU and UNDP Africa has partnered to assess the impact of COVID-19 on governance, peace and security.

In this Horn of Africa edition, the assessment shows that the crisis has had a moderate impact on governance, peace and security in the Horn of Africa to date—countries include Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia, South Sudan and Sudan, and this analysis includes Tanzania in addition to countries in the Horn of Africa. No country has experienced significant political instability. Political change and reform processes remain mostly on track. No major conflicts have emerged since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Al-Shabaab remains a threat in the region and could be strengthened by the loss of livelihoods.

However, COVID-19 has delayed progress in implementing reforms in some countries and is inhibiting government effectiveness across the region. The containment measures—together with the global recession, lower oil prices and damage to agriculture from locusts and flooding—are increasing poverty levels and jeopardizing livelihoods.

Through the lens of governance, peace and security, the brief provides an overview of the Government responses to COVID-19, state of the economy, livelihoods, food security and public health, the impact of COVID-19 on bilateral country relationships, regional borderlands dynamics and initiatives taken by African regional institutions. The brief concludes with a set of recommended regional action for consideration.

For further information contact :

James Ayodele | Principle Communication Officer| Africa CDC| African Union Commission | E-mail: ayodelej@africa-union.org

Lulit Kebede / Peace and Security Department /Communication Officer/African Union Commission Tel.: 251911211183 /Email: lulitk@africa‐union.org

Media Contact: Ms. Faith Adhiambo | Communications Officer-Agenda 2063 | African Union Commission | E-mail:OchiengJ@africa-union.org|

Directorate of Information and Communication | African Union Commission I E-mail: DIC@african-union.org I Website: www.au.int I Addis Ababa | Ethiopia Follow Us:Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIn | Instagram |