Covid-19 Response in Africa

Chers tous,

Voici notre clap de fin pour le projet Covid-19 Response in Africa: Together for Reliable Information.
Ce projet financé par l'Union Européene et porté en consortium par Free Press Unlimited, ARTICLE 19, Reporters sans frontières / Reporters Without Borders / RSF, Fondation Hirondelle, DW Akademie et IMS (International Media Support), en collaboration avec l'UNESCO, avait pour objectif d'apporter une réponse rapide à la crise du Covid-19, en soutenant des organisations de médias et journalistes de l'Afrique subsaharienne afin qu'ils puissent continuer de faire leur travail – qui est de fournir des informations pertinentes et fiables à leurs publics.

Après 18 mois d'intervention, ce projet pourrait se résumer par ces quelques chiffres :
- 39 organes de médias issue des 17 pays d'Afrique subsaharienne prioritairement ciblés par le projet, on reçu des subventions ;
- 29 organisations de media, dans 12 pays d'Afrique, ont reçu des petites subventions d'urgence ;
- 5 organisations de lobby et de plaidoyer en faveur des journalistes et des organes de la presse, dans 15 pays, ont reçu des subventions ;
- 7 organisations de fact checking, intervenant dans 14 pays, ont reçu des subventions ;
- 7 organisations de 7 pays différents ont reçu du soutien financier pour l´organisation d'événements durant ces journées internationales : IDUA, IDEI, WPFD ;
- 18 journalistes (14 hommes et 4 femmes) et 7 organisations on reçu des fonds d'urgence ;
- plus de 900 journalistes ont été soutenus par des organisations locales, entre autres JED (Congo RDC), MISA (Zimbabwe), et PAGED Initiatives (Nigeria), en recevant notamment des équipements de protections individuelle (EPI).

Nous sommes très fiers du travail de concert accompli dans le cadre de ce projet. Et d'ailleurs, les résultats de son évaluation nous rassure dans ce sens : malgré les différents défis rencontrés, le projet a été un vrai succès et a atteint ses objectifs, avec la production de centaines de contenus de qualités, en langues vernaculaires et en différents formats (magazine radios, article en ligne, podcasts, dessins humoristiques….) visant les publics vulnérables et hors des zones urbaines.

Grand MERCI à tous ceux qui ont contribué de près ou de loin à la réussite de ce projet - à EU International Partnerships pour son soutient financir - aux organisations de média et journalistes africains qui continuent de faire un travail remarquable. Merci pour votre confiance !

Ce projet s'arrête ici mais nos efforts communs pour un monde plus juste, au-delà de la pandémie du Covid-19, demeurent. Nous sommes ensemble.

Dear all,

Here we are, at the final end of the project – COVID-19 Response in Africa: Together for Reliable Information.
This project financed by the European Union and implemented by a consortium composed of Free Press Unlimited, ARTICLE 19, sans frontières / Reporters Without Borders / RSF, Fondation Hirondelle, DW Akademie and IMS (International Media Support), in collaboration with , aimed at providing a rapid response to the COVID-19 crisis. Specifically, the intention was to support media organisations and journalists in sub-Saharan Africa so that they could continue to do their work in providing relevant information to their audiences.

After 18 months of intervention, this project could be summarised with these figures:
- 39 African partners in 17 focus countries have received grants subgrants;
- 29 organisations in 12 countries, have received emergency small grants;
- 5 Africans media advocacy organisations (working in 15 countries) have received grants;
- 7 African fact-checking organisations (working in 14 countries), have received grants;
- 7 African media CSOs – from 7 different countries – have received financial support to organizse events (WPFD, IDUAI, IDEI);
- 18 individuals and 7 organisations from 9 different countries have received emergency small grants;
- More than 900 additional journalists supported by local partners including JED (DRC), MISA (Zimbabwe), and PAGED (Nigeria).

Big THANKS to all those who have contributed directly or indirectly to the success of this project – to the EU International Partnerships for the financial support – to African media organisations and journalists who continue to do remarkable work. Thank you for your trust!

This project ends here but our common efforts, for a more just world, beyond this COVID-19 pandemic, remains. We are in this together.

Cet article de Femme d'Afrique Magazine montre combien les gestes barrières de protection contre la Covid 19 ont été ignorées en RDC durant les fetes de fin d'années.
Soulignons que cet article est publié dans le cadre du projet qui est financé par EU Partnership
https://femmedafriquemagazine.net/covid-19-a-kinshasa-les-mesures-barrieres-ne-sont-pas-respectees-pendant-les-fetes-de-noel-et-de-nouvel-an/

Covid-19: A Kinshasa, les mesures-barrières ne sont pas respectées pendant les fêtes de Noël et de Nouvel An Entre méfiance jusqu’au sommet des institutions qui sont à compter au bout des doigts, les vaccins contre la Covid-19 n’ont pas fait recette jusqu’à présent en République démocratique du Congo, don…

ARTICLE 19 is one of the consortium member in the project funded by Eu.partnerships . Their areas of intervention in this project was related to the legal and policy changes and human rights violations against journalists in the context of Covid-19.
To know more about the human impact-country briefing published by ARTICLE 19 as well as others actions that they have done in the implementation of this project, please visit the link below.

https://www.article19.org/covid-19-response-in-africa/

Covid-19 Response in Africa: Together for reliable information - ARTICLE 19 This portal looks at the key challenges to Free Expression during Covid-19 across 9 countries in East and West Africa, and provides practical recommendations to address these challenges.

On December 6, 2021 Michelle Betz presented the evaluation of the project to the consortium members of this project which are FPU, Article 19, DW Academie, Fondation Hirondelle, RSF, IMS and Unesco. This project was funded Eu.partnerships . Below are the slides used by the evaluator during her presentation.

World Health Organization's target for achieving full vaccination rates of 40% in every country by the end of December has been missed across most of Africa.
https://www.bbc.com/news/56100076

Covid-19 vaccinations: African nations miss WHO target Most African countries are behind with their Covid vaccinations and have now missed two global targets.

Les gens qui vivent avec VIH, ils doivent se faire vacciner? Article de d'Afrique Magazine en RDC, qui fait partie du reseau
https://femmedafriquemagazine.net/les-vaccins-recommandes-contre-la-covid-19-sont-sans-danger-pour-les-personnes-vivant-avec-le-vih/

Les vaccins recommandés contre la Covid-19 sont sans danger pour les personnes vivant avec le VIH Un petit nombre de personnes vivant avec le VIH ont dernièrement participé aux essais cliniques menés dans le cadre de beaucoup d’études sur les vaccins contre la Covid-19.Malgré la quantité limité…

Article de Boubacar Hamani LONTO pour Aïr-Info Agadez sur la situation du Covid-19 au Niger.
https://airinfoagadez.com/2021/12/13/sante-covid-19-du-doute-a-levidence/

Santé/ COVID-19 : du doute à l’évidence Parvenue au Niger en mars 2020, quelques mois après son apparition en Chine, la COVID 19 est perçue par une grande partie de nigériens comme une maladie « inventée », « affabulée » par les autorité…

Article de Gethou Lola, journaliste de Femme d'Afrique Magazine partenaire du programme : Est-ce qu' on doit arreter l' allaitement quand tu as le Covid?
https://femmedafriquemagazine.net/covid-19-il-ny-a-aucune-raison-deviter-ou-darreter-lallaitement/

Covid-19: « Il n’y a aucune raison d’éviter ou d’arrêter l’allaitement » Après l’accouchement, le contact peau à peau immédiat entre la mère et l’enfant et la mise en route rapide de l’allaitement restent recommandés si la mère présente une Covid-19 confirmée ou présumé…

The Communication Inititiave Network featured the project in the current issue of their e-magazine The Drum Beat! The Drum Beat is designed for the international development community and anyone interested in communication for social development and change.

The Drum Beat 806 - Countering Digital Disinformation, Respecting Freedom of Expression "...freedom of expression, access to information and critical, independent journalism - supported by open and affordable internet access - are not only fundamental human rights, but should be treasured as essential tools in the arsenal to combat disinformation..." (from "Balancing Act"). For all our...

GroundUp, a South African partner within , made a round-up of 2021 by making a selection of pictures that were taken this year.

What a year! 2021 in photos A selection of photos we took this year

The Media Foundation for West Africa(MFWA) conducted an investigative report entitled 'COVID-19: Misinformation, Anxiety and Self-medication (Drug Abuse)' that reveals the harsh realities of the pandemic on the general population. It documents how misinformation created anxiety among the citizenry and led to people abusing medications in an effort to fight the virus.

COVID 19 MISINFORMATION, ANXIETY AND SELF MEDICATION DRUG ABUSE medium This investigative report titled “Covid-19: Misinformation, Anxiety and self-medication (Drug Abuse)” revealed the harsh realities of the pandemic on the gen...

In November 2021, ARTICLE 19 published a legal analysis of Sudan’s Draft Media laws and found that they failed to meet international freedom of expression standards. Reforms of the Draft Proposal on the Radio and Television Corporation Act (the Radio and Television Corporation Proposal) and the Draft Proposal on the Press Council Act (2021) (the Press Act Proposal) are long overdue. However, they fail to address many of the underlying issues of the current legislation. Overall, we note that there is still a severe lack of independence in the bodies created by the Draft Proposals and that the proposals rely on vague and overbroad definitions that leave processes open to abuse. We are also very concerned that these draft laws have been put forward in times where the response to the COVID-19 pandemic has added new challenges to the media to operate in a pluralistic and safe environment.

https://www.article19.org/resources/sudan-draft-media-laws-fail-to-meet-international-free-speech-standards-and-threaten-media-freedom-in-the-context-of-the-covid-19-pandemic/

Sudan: Media laws drafted during COVID-19 don't meet free speech standards - ARTICLE 19 In November 2021, ARTICLE 19 published a legal analysis of Sudan’s Draft Media laws and found that they failed to meet international freedom of expression standards. Media legislation in the country has been a concern for years and reforms were needed to bring it under international freedom of exp...

Leon van den Boogerd de Free Press Unlimited a rendu visite aux partenaires en Republique Centrafricaine. Avec le Reseau des Medias Communautaires RMCC et Association des Factchecking-AFC.

The Media Foundation for West Africa(MFWA) conducted an undercover investigative report entitled 'Fraud at COVID-19 Labs'. The report looks into some prominent COVID-19 testing centres, where it was revealed that positive test results can be changed to negative at a fee. Disturbingly, Frontiers Healthcare Services (FHS), the group tasked with running the COVID-19 test at Ghana’s International Airport, Kotoka and the Jubilee House Clinic were complicit in the falsification of the COVID-19 tests scandal.

FRAUD AT COVID-19 LABS: Frontiers, Jubilee House Clinic Involved When Jordan got to Frontiers, Clinton was not readily available because he was not on duty. He promised to get him the certificate

The Media Foundation for West Africa(MFWA) conducted an investigative report about COVID-19 in Ghana. The report highlights the COVID-19 situation in the five Savannah regions of Ghana. The report makes mention of the case counts, hotspots of the virus and the actions and inactions of those in charge to address the health crisis.

Covid-19: Outlook of 5 Savannah Regions - A1 Radio Bolgatanga Since the outbreak of the Coronavirus pandemic in Ghana in March 2020 till date, all major cities and the 16 administrative regions of Ghana have recorded varied number of cases. In a recent documentary aired on A1 Radio 101.1 MHz on Friday November 5, 2021, a vivid outlook of five regions of northe...

L'Association des Journalistes Scientifiques de Guinée a organise des focus groupes avec quelques citoyens, pour savoir l’impact de leurs programme radio et savoir comment les populations ont changé certaines de leurs habitudes grâce à l'émissions d'AJSG.

As of December 9, 2021, confirmed cases of Covid-19 from 55 African countries reached 8,803,411 while over 157,091,842 vaccinations have been administered across the continent
https://allafrica.com/stories/202112090329.html

Africa: Covid-19 Death Toll Exceeds 224,000 Across Continent As of December 9, 2021, confirmed cases of Covid-19 from 55 African countries reached  8,803,411 while over 157,091,842 vaccinations have been administered across the continent.

https://femmedafriquemagazine.net/impact-de-la-covid-19-sur-leducation-les-ecoliers-ont-perdu-1800-milliards-dheures-denseignement/

Impact de la Covid-19 sur l’éducation: les écoliers ont perdu 1800 milliards d’heures d’enseignement En RDC tout comme dans d’autres pays, la Covid-19 provoque de graves conséquences sur l’éducation. D’après les enquêtes du Fonds des Nations unies pour l’enfance (UNICEF), d…

On her visit in Nigeria, Gaelle Weigel from Free Press Unlimited visited PAGED Initiative a partner organization of the project funded by Eu.partnerships. Through this project, PAGED Initiative built the capacity of 48 journalists from northern Nigeria on reporting human interest reports on covid-19 as well as guiding them to think through story ideas and effects of covid-19 that have remained unexplored.

En date du 25 Novembre 2021 une session d’apprentissage et de partage au sujet de genre et égalité homme-femme dans les médias a été organisé . Cette session a été animé par Isabelle Otchoumane, de la cellule Norbert Zongo pour le journalisme d’investigation en Afrique de l’Ouest.
Cette session s'inscrit dans le cadre du projet financé par EU Partnership
https://collaboration.freepressunlimited.org/2021/12/covid-19-response-les-sessions-dapprentissage-et-de-partage-sur-legalite-de-traitement-sur-le-lieu-de-travail-25-novembre/

COVID-19 Response – Les sessions d’apprentissage et de partage sur l’Egalité de Traitement sur le lieu de travail (25 novembre) – Media Collaboration COVID-19 Response – Les sessions d’apprentissage et de partage sur l’Egalité de Traitement sur le lieu de travail (25 novembre) December 2, 2021 En november, les sessions d’apprentissage et de partage au sujet de genre et l’égalité homme-femme dans les médias a été organisé dans le ...

On Thursday 25 November, the session on Gender Sensitive Reporting was held. Busola Ajibola, an advocate for women’s and girls rights who works at Premium Times Centre for Investigative Journalism, led the session.
This session was organized as part of the project financed by EU Partnership.

https://collaboration.freepressunlimited.org/2021/12/covid-19-response-learning-and-sharing-session-on-gender-sensitive-reporting-25-november/

COVID-19 Response – Learning and Sharing session on Gender Sensitive Reporting (25 November) – Media Collaboration COVID-19 Response – Learning and Sharing session on Gender Sensitive Reporting (25 November) December 2, 2021 In November, Learning and Sharing sessions on the topic of gender and gender equality in the media were organised as part of the COVID-19 Response in Africa: Together for reliable informat...

https://femmedafriquemagazine.net/grossesse-la-vaccination-contre-la-covid19-na-pas-dincidence-sur-le-foetus/

Grossesse : « la vaccination contre la Covid19 n’a pas d’incidence sur le fœtus» À l’heure actuelle, la vaccination est présentée comme la seule piste de solution à emprunter en vue de réprimer la pandémie à Covid-19, un véritable fléau qui continue à ravager l’humanité toute e…

Fears of a fourth wave grow in South Africa as the number of daily cases have more than doubled over the last two weeks.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/science-and-disease/fears-grow-fourth-wave-covid-cases-quadruple-south-africa/

Fears of a fourth wave grow in South Africa as Covid cases quadruple Vaccination roll out has been slow and only a little over half of the country's 40m adults have received at least one dose

https://femmedafriquemagazine.net/covid-19-comment-peut-on-se-proteger-de-la-maladie/

Covid-19: comment peut-on se protéger de la maladie? Les experts, les médecins, les épidémiologistes, les hygiénistes… rassurent! « Il faut coûte que coûte respecter les gestes barrières pour se protéger contre la Covid-19 », recommandent-ils, insist…

This investigative report conducted by Media Foundation for West Africa at the Ghanian border town of Afloa shows how Covid-19 in Afloa has killed the economy more than humans. It also highlights the economic hardship faced by the residents due to the border closure.
The report was published as part of the project project funded by Eu.partnerships

https://www.fact-checkghana.com/in-aflao-covid-19-has-killed-the-economy-more-than-humans/

In Aflao, COVID-19 has killed the economy more than humans Hajia Munira runs a restaurant in Accra New Town. It is often packed at noon. A swarm of patrons, mostly hungry workers nearby meander their way through an unplanned community and collect under her eatery each day to be served. The boom in her business erases the memory of March 2020 when the govern...

Read about our Learning and Sharing session on Gender Content Monitoring that was held last Tuesday and led by Adenike Aloba! We look at some of the key takeaways from this session, including what gender mainstreaming is and how to monitor content using indices.

COVID-19 Response – Learning and Sharing session on Gender Content Monitoring (23 November) – Media Collaboration COVID-19 Response – Learning and Sharing session on Gender Content Monitoring (23 November) November 26, 2021 In November, Learning and Sharing sessions on the topic of gender and gender equality in the media were organised as part of the COVID-19 Response in Africa: Together for reliable informat...

Covid-19: Lancement d'une nouvelle de strategie de vaccination au Sud-Soudan qui prévoit de réduire l’écart entre les ruraux et les urbains d’une part, les hommes et les femmes d’autre part.

https://www.lemonde.fr/afrique/article/2021/11/23/covid-19-au-soudan-du-sud-une-campagne-pour-apporter-le-vaccin-au-plus-pres-des-gens_6103286_3212.html

Covid-19 : au Soudan du Sud, une campagne pour « apporter le vaccin au plus près des gens » La nouvelle stratégie de vaccination prévoit de réduire l’écart entre les ruraux et les urbains d’une part, les hommes et les femmes d’autre part.

Alors que beaucoup de doute planne pour savoir si les personnes vaccinées contre la covid-19 peuvent toujours contracter la maladie; cet article montre 4 facteurs majeures qui augmentent le risque de contracter le covid 19 après la vaccination.

https://www.bbc.com/afrique/region-58624512

Ces 4 facteurs qui augmentent le risque de contracter le covid 19 après la vaccination - BBC News Afrique Plusieurs experts décrivent les facteurs qui contribuent à augmenter le risque d'infection d'une personne ayant reçu le vaccin contre le coronavirus.

Article 19 Eastern Africa in collaboration with the Congress of African Journalists and Journalists Workers Union of Tanzania (JOWUTA) held a Multi-stakeholder workshop on C19 Response in Tanzania last week

We also launched a briefing on Attacks against Journalists in Tanzania in the context of the pandemic from March 2020- July 2021 https://article19.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Covid-Response-Africa-Tanzania-1.pdf…

https://femmedafriquemagazine.net/covid-19-la-pandemie-reste-un-frein-a-la-croissance-economique-de-la-rdc/

Covid-19: la pandémie reste un frein à la croissance économique de la RDC Les restrictions sur les opérations commerciales, les perturbations aux frontières internationales et la baisse de la demande pour les exportations clés au cours de 2020 ont toutes eu un impact nég…

O Ministério da Saúde anunciou que em Moçambique ainda não foi detectado nenhum caso da pandemia respiratória causado pela variante Ómicron. Neste sábado(27) apenas cinco novos infectados pela covid-19 foram diagnosticados.

https://verdade.co.mz/covid-19-em-mocambique-ainda-nao-foi-detectado-nenhum-caso-da-variante-omicron/ Covid-19 Response in Africa IMS (International Media Support)

Covid is now a pandemic of poor nations, a leading global expert has told a cross-party group of MPs in UK , adding that governments that are attempting to vaccinate their way out of the pandemic are taking a huge risk.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/nov/16/covid-now-a-pandemic-of-poor-nations-who-envoy-tells-uk-mps

Covid now a pandemic of poor nations, WHO envoy tells UK MPs Rich counties taking risk by ‘hoovering up’ boosters, all-party group on coronavirus told

Flooded by fakenews and lack of a reliable information regarding the covid-19 vaccine, some Cameroonians hesitated to be vaccinated. The mixed Family Club- Minsante- Minjec teams deployed in the health districts of Yaounde, are making efforts on a daily basis to correct the situation.available, and are
ready to go to the field to meet groups for a dialogue user-friendly guide on vaccination against Covid.
project funded by Eu.partnerships
https://www.civiclens.info/2021/11/covid-19-response-minsante-minjec.html

Covid-19 Response: MINSANTE-MINJEC Engage in Activities to Fight the Pandemic A blog about everything on information and lifestyle.

Activists are calling for a Basic Income Grant, an increase in the Covid-19 Social Relief of Distress grant and its extension beyond March 2022.
This article is published by GroundUp a partner of the project funded by .partnerships
https://www.groundup.org.za/article/activists-demand-basic-income-grant/

Activists demand Basic Income Grant Protesters march on National Treasury after budget last week

Nigeria has launched a mass COVID-19 vaccination campaign in Abuja, in an attempt to prevent a rise in cases of coronavirus.
https://www.africanews.com/2021/11/22/nigeria-begins-mass-covid-19-vaccination/

Nigeria: Abuja begins mass Covid-19 vaccination | Africanews Nigeria has launched a mass COVID-19 vaccination campaign in Abuja, in an attempt to prevent a rise in cases of coronavirus.

Covid 19, mythe ou réalité en RDC ? Un survivant partage son expérience.
Cet article est publié par Femme d'Afrique Magazine dans le cadre du projet financé par EU International Partnerships
https://femmedafriquemagazine.net/covid-19-mythe-ou-realite-en-rdc-un-survivant-partage-son-experience/

Covid 19, mythe ou réalité en RDC ? Un survivant partage son expérience Déclarée depuis le 10 mars 2020 sur le territoire national, la pandémie à Covid-19 qui a secoué le monde entier, a fait trois (3) vagues en République démocratique du Congo, touchant ainsi toutes l…

´´We urge the Government of South Africa
to follow the recommendations in this
briefing to ensure the right to freedom of
expression and the safety of journalists
are guaranteed – especially in the
COVID-19 pandemic.´´
This is the message of the action report made by ARTICLE 19 in the framework of programme, with support of EU International Partnerships.
The full report is available here:https://www.article19.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/C19-Covid-Response-Africa_SA.pdf