The COVID-19 pandemic has made EWMI’s support of Albania’s only fact-checking service, Faktoje, even more urgent and important. With support from EWMI through its Justice for All (JfA) project funded by USAID, Faktoje will be producing an awareness raising video on countering disinformation related to COVID-19, building a database with reliable information on COVID-19, and working with local journalists to report accurate information on COVID-19 in their communities. Track developments at: www.faktoje.al. EWMI is also supporting its counterparts in the Albanian judiciary by sharing information on how other judiciaries are responding to the pandemic and facilitating remote meetings of the country’s High Judicial Council (HJC).
COVID-19 Notable Resources and EWMI Program Responses
The ongoing 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID – 19) pandemic is having profound global health, societal and economic impacts. During this difficult time, EWMI’s top priority is the wellbeing of our staff, implementing partners, grantees, and the communities we serve. Although we have adjusted our operations to ensure the safety of the EWMI community, we remain committed to our mission and will continue to work to strengthen democratic societies around the world. On this page, EWMI is sharing a collection of Rule of Law, Civil Society, and Health Disparities and Social Inequality resources that we hope will be useful to our counterparts and colleagues around the world as they navigate the new challenges this pandemic presents. To learn more about what EWMI is doing on the ground please read the EWMI Program Responses section of this page.
The links below are being provided as a convenience and for informational purposes only; they do not constitute an endorsement or an approval by East-West Management Institute. EWMI bears no responsibility for the content of the external site or for that of subsequent links.
COVID-19: Rule of Law Resources
The ongoing Covid-19 pandemic is affecting the rule of law around the world. In an effort to share ideas, approaches, and issues with our counterparts and colleagues around the world, EWMI has compiled a collection of articles, webpages, and resources that provide guidance and information on how various aspects of justice systems in the United States and in other countries are responding to the pandemic. The materials, which by no means are intended to be exhaustive, cover how the pandemic is affecting courts, prisons, and access to justice, among other issues. We hope that you find this information useful. Our goal will be to post periodic updates for as long as the information is helpful and relevant. If you are aware of additional articles, materials, or training opportunities that you would like to see added to this resource, please submit them to Remi Vespi, Senior Program Manager – Legal Programs, at rvespi@ewmi.org.
Court Operations
Access To Justice
Prisons
Immigration/Refugees
Human Rights and International Law
COVID-19: Civil Society Resources
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic continues to threaten our health and to disrupt our political, economic, social, and cultural lives. As civil society actors, we also need to continue doing our work by providing information and services to the groups we serve, defending human rights and democratic institutions and practices, and monitoring the governments’ actions to address the pandemic and beyond. In an effort to share ideas, approaches, and concerns with our counterparts and colleagues around the world, EWMI has compiled the following collection of articles, webpages, and resources that provide guidance and information on approaches, tactics, and tools that civil society actors in the United States and other countries are using or could use to respond to the pandemic. These materials, which by no means are intended to be exhaustive, cover issues related to: the operating environment for civil society organizations (CSOs), CSOs’ role in addressing COVID-19 pandemic and in monitoring governments’ service delivery during the pandemic, potential threats to civil liberties and democracy, freedom of information and the right to information, disinformation, funding sources for CSOs, use of big data, digital and other resources available to CSOs. We hope that you find this information useful. Our goal is to post periodic updates for as long as the information is helpful and relevant. If you are aware of additional articles, materials or training opportunities that you would like to see added to this resource, please submit them to Alexandra Zenoff, Senior Program Manager, azenoff@ewmi.org.
Operating Environment
Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), May 2020
Summary of CDC initiatives, activities, and tools to support COVID-19 response and “reopening” of the United States
Latest information and resources that nonprofits can use to prepare and respond from the National Council of Nonprofits.
March 27, 2020
Ideas & tips for human rights defenders
March 23, 2020
Opinion on how organizations must adopt new strategies to advocate and leverage digital communication for virtual advocacy
(March 12, 2020)
How charities are looking to work from home in the face of COVID-19
Role for Civil Society
Oxfam Blogs: From Poverty to Power, April 23, 2020
The pandemic is disrupting the work of civil society around the world, but it is also catalyzing new forms of civic engagement.
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, April 21, 2020
Although pandemic response efforts are disrupting civil society across the world, the situation is catalyzing new forms of civic mobilization and activism.
April 1, 2020, Transparency International Ukraine
Transparency International Ukraine reports on simplified procurement procedure for items procured in connection with COVID-19
March 25, 2020
Examines from three perspectives:
That of the people CSOs serve; CSOs’ staff’s wellbeing and morale;CSOs’ health and resilience
March 24, 2020
Perspectives from China, India, South Africa, Slovakia, Colombia, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, the US, the UK
March 10, 2020
Harvard Kennedy School experts discuss the critical and difficult roles the public sector must play in the ongoing coronavirus pandemic
Compilation of examples of current citizen-led community responses, participatory disaster response strategies, building trust between government and citizens, transparency over forecasting models and data that inform government strategies, digital platforms or apps that keep citizens informed, digital and/or crowdsources provision of public and government services, and protecting data rights and privacy as corporation help lead the response in some countries.
Role of CSOs in Monitoring Delivery of Services During COVID-19
Article 19, May 2020
The right to information is important in combating COVID-19.
List by country of laws, decrees, and formal policy statements that temporarily alter or suspend RTI obligations due to COVID-19
April 1, 2020
Transparency International Ukraine reports on simplified procurement procedure for items procured in connection with COVID-19
Threat to Civil Liberties and Democracy
The Solidarity Center, April 10, 2020
A garment factory in Yangon fired union workers, citing a decrease in demand due to COVID-19, while keeping on non-union workers
Transparency International, April 3, 3030
Assessing the corruption risks of coronavirus and approaches on how to prevent the abuse of power during a global health pandemic.
The Solidarity Center, April 2 2020
The scale of the COVID-19 pandemic offers to possibility to build more resilient economies and societies
March 20, 2020
The European Digital Rights (EDRi) outlines guidelines for protection of human rights in response to Covid-19.
Human Rights Watch, March 19, 2020
Human Rights Watch provides an overview of human rights concerns posed by the coronavirus outbreak, drawing on examples of government responses to date, and recommends ways governments and other actors can respect human rights in their response.
March 17, 2020
Government restrictions limiting civil liberties and historical lessons on judicial decisions and coercive measures in the US that impacted civil liberties in the name of public health
March 16, 2020
Discussion of the implications for civil liberties of the novel coronavirus and the disease it causes, COVID-19
March 10, 2020
Notes threats to rights during the current pandemic and provides recommendations for governments respecting rights during a public health emergency
Human Rights Journal, March 1, 2020
Amid growing public fears, confusion, and misinformation it is critical to set out some key human rights principles and the guidance they provide.
Brennan Center for Justice (ongoing)
Articles and resources addressing issues related to the test posed by COVID-19 to democracy on:
Elections; Overreach of powers during emergencies; Incarceration
Interactive map and database of significant antigovernment protests since 2017 compiled by Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
Digital Surveillance
Asia Sentinel, April 16, 2020
The app may enable the Indian Government to track and share data outside the scope of its stated purpose.
LawFare, April 15, 2020
Assessing and evaluating the efficacy of geotracking tools and applications to combat COVID-19.
Wall Street Journal, April 15, 2020
Surveillance technology used to curb the spread of COVID-19 raises concerns about government overreach
Internet Freedom Foundation, April 13, 2020
An analysis of how the use and publication of health data as well as specific surveillance, tracking, and contact tracing technologies and apps are impacting individual privacy in India during the pandemic.
Global tracking of COVID-19 response in relation to data and information, quarantine enforcement, apps and smartphone as well as telecommunications tracking.
Digital Reach Asia, April 2, 2020
A critical evaluation of the TraceTogether app developed by the Singapore government.
April 2, 2020
Signed by dozens of organizations, the statement urges government to consider human rights before increasing digital surveillance
April 1, 2020
The app is designed to be downloaded by individuals with COVID-19 to allow government to track their movements. In addition to the app, there was a leak that a new system using QR codes specific to each individual would be used to track people when they went outside of their homes
April 1, 2020
- Germany has developed a voluntary app to track the spread of the coronavirus
- Users are intended to remain completely anonymous
- In order for the app to work as intended, at least 60% of the population would need to use it and keep it on their person wherever they go
Centre for International Governance Innovation, March 30, 2020
Investigates the dangers of using a digital response to the COVID-19 outbreak in light of new technologies used for in the context of: contact tracing; testing and responder capacity; early warning and surveillance; quarantine and social control; and research and cure.
March 28, 2020
Describes examples around the world of various government methods of surveillance using cellphones during the current pandemic
March 27, 2020
NHS is expected to announce its collaboration with Microsoft, Amazon, and Palantir to predict demands on hospital capacity. This article proposes:
- Data partnerships should put the interests of the NHS patients and the public first
- Data partnerships should be transparent and accountable about how data will be shared, accessed, and used and by whom
- Data partnerships should consider and account for health inequities
March 27, 2020
A geolocation tracking system is currently being used to track at least 700,000 smartphones to identify where lockdown rules are being followed
CNet March 25, 2020
Exploitation of social media to enforce quarantine lockdowns across Italy and other parts of the world are being evaluated as governments try to enforce social distancing as a response to the pandemic.
Law Fare, March 25, 2020
Mobile surveillance using location data sourced from devices need to be evaluated for their efficacy. The article explores the limitations of using location data to counter covid-19.
March 23, 2020
Normally a privacy activist, this author argues the pandemic does warrant releasing cellphone data already being collected and stored by the private sector to relevant public authorities in order to enhance contract tracing
Center for Global Development, March 20, 2020
Increased reliance on digital tools to monitor the spread of disease raises serious questions about how to prevent governments from using those same tools to track individuals for other purposes after a health crisis has subsided.
March 19, 2020
The Israeli government is tracking individuals who have the virus and texting those who may have been exposed
Freedom of Information / Right to Information
Wired, April 12, 2020
Blind spots in location-tracking data can threaten both public health and human rights. Big data can obscure or misrepresent complex social realities, with dangerous consequences for both public health and human rights. The impulse to harness data for good should not be a license to conduct risky experiments that sacrifice privacy and civil liberties without any clear payoff–harmful results that could persist well after the crisis is over.
April 1, 2020
Civil society must urge governments to be transparent and not to accept the excuse that transparency slows government action
April 1, 2020
The B.C. government in Canada issued a ministerial order to allow for broader use of communication tools for healthcare workers and other government employees in order to better respond to the COVID-19 outbreak
March 27, 2020
Report on how different US agencies are changing how they process Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests during the current pandemic
March 30, 2020
Hawaiian governor suspended the state’s public records and open meeting laws
Article 19
Article 19 monitors and reporting on government overreach, and urging governments and other actors to ensure human rights, including the right to free expression, are fully protected in efforts to combat the virus.
March 4, 2020
Different countries have applied very different approaches to controlling or sharing information during the COVID-19 pandemic
Misinformation
March 26, 2020
Describes the role censorship during early days of the outbreak played in the pandemic and warns of overreaching surveillance, lack of transparency, and censorship in countries all across the world as a threat to rights
cNet, March 25, 2020
A research group examines more than 500,000 Instagram profiles in Italy to see if people are abiding by the quarantine.
March 17, 2020
It is crucial to address the COVID-19 infodemic, which the WHO defines as “an overabundance of information—some accurate and some not—that makes it hard for people to find trustworthy sources and reliable guidance.”
February 12, 2020
Thanks to social media, information and misinformation has been shared around the world at unprecedented speeds, fueling panic and racism but also hope.
BBC News, February 13, 2020
WHO asks tech companies to take stronger action against sharing false COVID-19 information
The Verge, February 3, 2020
Highlights the risks of using large big data that is unsubstantiated by evidence and the impacts of such decisions on people's livelihoods.
Funding Sources for CSOs
Council of Europe, April 6, 2020
European Youth Foundation (EYF) announces a call for local or national youth organizations to apply for funding to respond to local needs during the COVID-19 pandemic.
March 30, 2020
In the first three months of 2020, governments, bilateral donors, multilateral institutions, philanthropic donors, NGOs, and the private sector have pledged a combined more than $4.6 trillion; The Devex Interactive Dashboard allows users to search the funding opportunities announced between January 1 and March 24, 2020 with filters such as donor type, funders, geographic footprint, and focus areas
March 27, 2020
A total of EUR 600,000 will be allocated for granting proposals in healthcare and telemedicine, education and e-learning/distance learning, and support to micro, small and medium-sized enterprises. All public and private entities, NGOS based and registered in CEI Member States, and international/regional organizations are eligible to apply for up to EUR 40,000 with a deadline of April 9, 2020.
Funding opportunities will be posted on https://www.grants.gov/ and https://beta.sam.gov/.
Potential partners may also submit unsolicited proposals to COVID19_Concepts@usaid.gov.
List of funding available with a focus on US-based foundations that serve nonprofits
Resources for CSOs
Digital Access Resources: Google Hangouts Premium is free through July 1; Microsoft Teams is available for free for six months; Zoom is free for calls of less than 45 minutes; Slack has a variety of plans, including a free version; GoToMeeting is also offering their remote work tools free for three months; Nonprofits focused on fighting COVID-19 can access three months of free Dropbox Premium; CryptPad offers a more private alternative to cloud services and other tools; all stored content is encrypted before it is sent. Registration is free and storage has been increased to 1 GB until further notice.
Complication of courses, tools, webinars and workshops, and other resources for nonprofits
Articles and resources on digital rights in the COVID-19 fight, including topics such as:
- Transparency reporting
- Government surveillance
- Fighting disinformation and misinformation
Subscribe through the following link to receive updated COVID-19 articles and resources by email: https://act.accessnow.org/page/29451/subscribe/1
Email newsletter with a variety of resources and volunteer opportunities for interested individuals during the pandemic
Comprehensive list of digital initiatives currently being developed in response to COVID-19 pandemic
Another inventory list of civil tech group’s working to ensure data protection and security within COVID-19 response applications.
A live list of global responses to COVID-19 broken down by region as well as resources including; data challenges and calls for proposals and requests for data experts.
Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP), 2020
There are important lessons that can be learned from the many Indigenous communities in Asia that have been responding to the COVID-19 pandemic in both traditional and creative ways.
COVID-19 and Environment
March 19, 2020
As habitat and biodiversity loss increase globally, the coronavirus outbreak may be just the beginning of mass pandemics.
COVID-19: Health Disparities and Social Inequality Resources
As in other historical and existing public health crises, vulnerable groups are disproportionately shouldering the burden of the COVID-19 pandemic. At the same time, underlying inequalities are often exacerbated in emergencies, and the current pandemic is no different in that respect. For both of these reasons, inequalities must be taken into consideration in designing prevention and response efforts to the COVID-19 pandemic. In an effort to share ideas, approaches, and concerns with our counterparts and colleagues around the world, EWMI has compiled the following collection of articles, webpages, and resources that provide guidance and information on approaches, tactics, and tools that civil society actors in the United States and other countries are using or could use to respond to the pandemic. These materials, which by no means are intended to be exhaustive, cover issues related to the effects of social inequality, race, racism, and xenophobia during the COVID-19 pandemic. We hope that you find this information useful. Our goal is to post periodic updates for as long as the information is helpful and relevant. If you are aware of additional articles, materials or training opportunities that you would like to see added to this resource, please submit them to Alexandra Zenoff, Senior Program Manager, azenoff@ewmi.org.
Social Inequality
Resource Library for COVID-19 and Gender references.
Business Insider, May 13, 2020
Those with lower incomes are disproportionately represented among the many Americans who have lost their jobs during the pandemic.
The New York Times Magazine, May 5, 2020
Community health centers serving vulnerable populations are stretched to the limit during the pandemic.
The New Yorker, May 1, 2020
The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted in the American medical system the serious problems of fragmented care, unequal access, and social inequities.
United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, May 2020
The economic consequences of the pandemic are disproportionately hurting low-skilled, low-wage workers.
United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, May 2020
Unless action is taken, the pandemic threatens to worsen inequality for generations to come.
Reliefweb, April 22, 2020
Examining how to plan for the potential of multiple challenges faced at the same time in Cambodia, which will have the biggest impact on those already vulnerable.
The New Yorker, April 21, 2020
The burdens of the pandemic may be falling disproportionately on single mothers, many of whom were already in challenging situations.
Medium, April 20, 2020
A data-driven, epidemiological approach to combatting COVID-19 excludes vulnerable groups that are often not identified or counted. This blog post explores many of the ways this will affect marginalized populations living in Lower Mekong Countries (LMC).
Thomson Reuters Foundations News, April 20, 2020
Indigenous communities must be involved in the response to the pandemic, and governments must respect the rights of indigenous peoples to govern and protect their territories.
Web Foundation, April 15, 2020
Especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, having access to adequate internet at home plays an important role in providing information to keep individuals safe, helping them virtually connect with others, and in some cases allowing them to stay engaged in work and school.
Quartz, April 14, 2020
A global look at how the pandemic and response efforts affect low wage workers.
The Guardian, April 13, 2020
Lack of adequate (or any) internet at home is putting underserved communities further at risk during the pandemic
International Planned Parenthood Federation, April 9, 2020
Relief Web, April 9, 2020
Actions must be taken in preparedness and response planning in order to address the gendered impacts of the pandemic, including through: community engagement and consultations; access to reliable information; women’s leadership, decision-making, and engagement in prevention/response plans; and isolation and shielding.
United Nations, April 9, 2020
Medium, April 7, 2020
The social and economic consequences of COVID-19 may disproportionately affect women long after the pandemic is over unless targeted action is taken.
April 5, 2020
The Elmhurst neighborhood in Queens, New York City has been dubbed the “epicenter of the epicenter” within the United States
An emergency medicine doctor at Elmhurst Hospital Center reflects on the social inequities that contribute to the situation in Elmhurst and other neighborhoods with similar demographics:
Rates of residents living in poverty
Immigration status
Jobs that do not offer health insurance or other benefits and do not allow for working from home
Crowded housing conditions that do not allow for sufficient social distancing or isolating
Queens has 1.5 hospital beds per 1,000 people while Manhattan has 5.3 hospital beds per 1,000 people
Elmhurst Hospital beds and intensive care units were often full before the pandemic, so it is not surprising that the hospital would be overwhelmed now with the influx of COVID-19 patients
The New Yorker, April 1, 2020
COVID-19 response policies kept some partners from attending childbirths.
March 15, 2020
There is a feedback loop exacerbated by economic inequality
Those with lower economic status seem more likely to catch COVID-19, more likely to die from it, more likely to have reduced income or healthcare during restrictive measures such as quarantines
Research on flu epidemics suggests that poverty and inequality increase rates of transmission and mortality
Lower socioeconomic status is linked to higher prevalence of chronic health conditions such as diabetes and heart disease
March 9, 2020
Dr. Diana Hernández, Assistant Professor of Sociomedical Sciences at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, reflects on the ways the pandemic will differ across socioeconomic status:
Social distancing may be more difficult for many lower-income workers and those living in high-density conditions
Buying extra food and supplies as a preparedness measure will be too expensive for many people living paycheck to paycheck
Historically, low-income and other marginalized groups have often suffered worse health outcomes due to preexisting conditions or delayed healthcare
HIV/AIDS has highlighted disparities both in the US and globally
The current pandemic is an opportunity to demand an improvement to structural inequities
United Nations, March 2020
Report from the UN on social, economic, and multidimensional impacts of the pandemic and sustainable solutions to cope with these impacts.
Data2x, March 2020
Information about gender data trackers, calls to action, and other resources related to gender data and COVID-19.
Race and Health Outcomes
New York Times, May 21, 2020
Homes with a significant number of black and Latino residents have been twice as likely to be hit by the coronavirus as those where the population is overwhelmingly white.
Medium, May 14, 2020
Structural racism in the United States has caused the social and economic inequalities that result in the health disparities among different race and ethnic groups in the United States—both in the COVID-19 pandemic and more generally.
The New Yorker, May 7, 2020
Chair of Harvard University’s Department of the History of Science, Dr. Evelynn Hammonds, describes the historical context of African Americans and public health in the US.
USA Today, April 10, 2020
The COVID-19 pandemic highlights the extent to which health care access and health outcomes in the US are tied to employment and income.
The Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact, April 9, 2020
COVID-19 is worsening the racial discrimination, criminalization, and stereotyping that Indigenous Peoples face
April 7, 2020
A breakdown of fatalities by race shows that as of April 7, 2020, 70.48% of COVID-19 deaths in Louisiana have been among its black residents
Note: According to the US Census data, only 32.7% of Louisiana’s population is black (https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/LA/PST045219)
Des Moines Register, April 7, 2020
Despite the fact that black Americans are dying of coronavirus at higher rates in some major cities, most federal and state officials are not tracking and/or releasing racial data.
April 6, 2020
Although only 30% of Chicago’s population is black, black residents account for 52% of cases and 72% of deaths related to COVID-19 complications at the time of this article
Public health professionals point to the fact that historically, residents of Chicago’s South and West sides are more likely to have worse access to health care, higher poverty rates, and jobs that do not allow for remote work
Chicago’s public health commissioner ordered all healthcare providers to collect information on race and ethnicity of COVID-19 patients as a step in addressing the disparities
Similar trends are occurring in other American cities and states
The group Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law called for more transparency on patients’ race and ethnicity in federal and state reporting on COVID-19 testing, cases, and health outcomes
Caravan Magazine, April 3, 2020
Coronavirus has led to racism against Indians from the northeast
April 4, 2020
Michigan’s population is only 12% black, yet black residents account for approximately 40% of COVID-19 related deaths
Experts say social inequities contribute to the different health outcomes and also warn that although anyone can be infected by the virus, the trends among which groups are experiencing higher rates of infection puts those groups at risk of stigma and discrimination
The New Humanitarian, March 25, 2019
Amazonia Real, March 19, 2020
A look at the voluntary quarantine of the people in Xingu National Park will attempt to protect the community against COVID-19, especially in light of immunological and health care vulnerabilities.
Racism and Xenophobia
United Nations, May 11, 2020
Recommendations for countering COVID-19-related hate-speech.
CNN, May 1, 2020
In New York, Asian American workers have seen the largest percentage increase in filing for employment (as compared to the same period last year) compared to any other single racial or ethnic group.
April 5, 2020
Both in-person and online anti-Asian racism have increased during the COVID-19 pandemic
Racist terms and slang used to talk about COVID-19 both promotes stigma and discrimination and also contributes to the spread of misinformation about the virus
March 17, 2020
Experts describe historical disease outbreaks from the bubonic plague of the 14th century to SARS and associated stigma, ethnic bias, racism, and xenophobia
Such discrimination is not only problematic but also counterproductive as a response to public health emergencies
March 17, 2020
Dr. Ho-Fung Hung, Johns Hopkins University professor of Political Economy in the Sociology Department and at the Paul H Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), writes in the Journal of Political Risk about the important distinction between fighting the harmful xenophobic racism sparked by the COVID-19 pandemic and holding the Chinese government accountable for their response to the outbreak, particularly in the early days
March 16, 2020
Nellie Mae Foundation has announced a rapid response grant fund to support community-based organizations in the New England region of the United States to respond to hate crimes and bias against Asian American communities as a result of COVID-19
COVID-19: EWMI Program Responses
EWMI is making every effort to keep everyone safe and healthy during this pandemic and has asked our global offices to comply with all local and national laws, declarations, and efforts to limit the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Our programs have adjusted operations to ensure safety, but continue to serve their communities during this time of need. This section highlights the ways in which our programs have adapted their activities in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Albania —
USAID Justice for All (JfA)
Azerbaijan —
Socio-Economic Development Activity in Azerbaijan (SEDA)
EWMI SEDA staff is producing and sharing public health awareness videos and posts through the Community Development House Facebook page. The Community Development House was established by SEDA in January 2020 to serve as a resource center for the communities the SEDA supports. To learn more about their work please visit: https://www.facebook.com/cdhseda/
On March 30th, the Government of Azerbaijan issued a resolution imposing an enhanced stay-at-home regime in the country from April 1 to May 31, 2020. The stay-at-home regime required total lock down for four major cities – Baku, Ganja, Lankaran, and Sumgait, prohibited travel to and from these four cities, while allowing for meetings of up to 10 people in other places. In response to the resolution, SEDA began using online platforms to organize roundtable discussions and provide training for the 20 Community Development Councils (CDCs) established during January – March 2020 with SEDA support. Online training session topics included Community Mobilization, Needs Assessment, Leadership, and Community Funds. Prior to starting the online capacity building activities for CDCs, SEDA developed and posted instructions for CDC members on how to participate in online training and roundtables using Zoom and WhatsApp on the Community Development House (CDH) Facebook page (see www.facebook.com/cdhseda/notifications). SEDA recorded the online training sessions and posted them on the CDH Facebook page, so that CDCs and other can access and refer to them, as needed. By May 15, 2020, SEDA completed 95 training sessions. 753 people, including 322 women, 91 youth, and 14 municipality and local ExCom representatives, attended the training sessions and the roundtables.
EWMI SEDA staff has also prepared and posted on CDH’s Facebook page video presentations on various topics related to community development including: Gender Equality, Youth in Community Development, Agrotourism and Community, Public Private Partnership, Solid Waste Management, and E-government.
Cambodia —
USAID Cambodian Civil Society Strengthening (CCSS)
In Cambodia, the USAID-funded CCSS program is supporting grantees as they respond to the COVID-19 pandemic:
Publicizing data on COVID-19: Open Development Cambodia (ODC) published a dataset and map layer on COVID-19 cases in Cambodia. For access to the map click link and to the dataset click link.
Fact-checking claims about COVID-19: Women’s Media Center of Cambodia (WMC) is fact-checking four stories on (1) ‘drinking more water kills the coronavirus,’ (2) ‘people with AB blood are more vulnerable to the coronavirus, whereas people with type O blood are less infected,’ (3) ‘old people are more likely to die than children if they are infected by coronavirus,’ and (4) ‘living close to a telephone antenna and using a cell phone affects your health.’
Youth volunteers help prevent COVID-19: On March 30, YCC youth groups joined local authorities in Sangkat Preaek Lieb in a series of public awareness events aimed at prevention among returning migrants in 3 communes (Beng, Kouk Mon and Batey Ampil) in Oddor Meanchey province. A total of 15 (6 females) people participated, including youth group members, district officials, commune councilors, health center officials and village chiefs.
Georgia —
Advancing CSO Capacities and Engaging Society for Sustainability (ACCESS)
Rapid Response Grants
In order to respond to the COVID-19 crisis in a timely manner, EWMI ACCESS promptly announced the Rapid Response Grants program for Georgian Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), civil movements and citizen groups. The program deploys flexible resources to these groups to take civic action to minimize the spread of infection and address the crisis caused by the pandemic. Interested applicants are encouraged to submit their proposals according to detailed guidelines available HERE. Grants have already been awarded to several grantees. For example, Rapid Response Grantee Mirian Jugheli has built up a website cataloging different types of products and services available online in Georgia to ease adherence to the stay-at-home regulations. It also includes a section debunking disinformation about COVID-19 and pointing visitors to reliable information. Rapid Response Grantee Ajara Democratic Development Center launched its hotline for the Roma community living in the Ajara region to help inform them about the COVID-19 risks and prevention measures.
EWMI ACCESS Partner, the Network of Centers for Civic Engagement (NCCE)
NCCE regional offices in ten different locations are organizing different on-line events/webinars/discussions/meetings on a daily basis to support their communities: webinars for school students on COVID-19 prevention measures; online discussions with school students, teachers, directors, and CSOs about the main problems faced by regional public schools with the introduction of online schooling; webinars titled COVID-19 Myths and Realities for local CSOs and civic activists to raise their awareness about the most widespread disinformation about the new virus and provide factual information; on-line discussion about the COVID-19-related threats and problems in the conflict zone villages; etc.
The NCCE also published a statement offering assistance to civil society organizations (CSOs) and government agencies in disseminating timely and credible information related to COVID-19 and related services/resources in regions. NCCE has a comprehensive and up-to-date database of nearly 15,000 people living in 10 regions of Georgia, disaggregated by different categories (e.g. farmers, teachers, entrepreneurs, the elderly, students, journalists). NCCE collected this data with the consent of its beneficiaries. Using the database, it will be able to reach those citizens who are left beyond the social networks. NCCE offers assistance in information distribution free of charge.
Coping with Stress
Acknowledging that the infection outbreak has caused fear, stress, anxiety and grief among many, EWMI ACCESS has teamed with the Center for Training and Consultancy (CTC) to prepare and share info-videos and other materials to a wider Georgian audience. Featuring prominent psychologist Maya Tsiramua, the videos aim to reduce anxiety, addressing specific methods to manage stress and fear. The videos are available HERE.
Distance Learning Courses for Civil Society Representatives
Distance learning courses’ popularity is increasing with social distancing measures in place. Therefore, EWMI ACCESS and the Center for Training and Consultancy (CTC) have re-opened admission to online learning courses in the following subjects: 1) Project Logic. 2) Roadmap for Civil Society Organizations (CSOs). 3) Leadership at a Civil Society Organization (CSO). Each module is equipped with additional learning material and quizzes, and each module’s pace can be customized by the participant according to their personal needs. Participants earn a certificate after successfully completing the course tests.
Disinformation
EWMI ACCESS Public Policy and Accountability Grantee working on countering Russian and anti-western disinformation, StratCom Georgia, published a research article on Russia seizing the COVID-19 “opportunity” to strengthen anti-EU and NATO feelings and broadcast pro-Russian propaganda on social and state media. The article challenged Russia’s media coverage about the Russian anthem being played in the streets of Italy, EU flags being replaced with Russian flags, and other manipulations by Russian media outlets. StratCom Georgia also published a new research post to debunk a conspiracy theory linking 5G with COVID-19. This myth quickly gained traction on Georgian social media. StratCom Georgia prepared its post based on the New York Times article on this topic. StratCom Georgia published another post on its popular anti-propaganda Facebook page Information Defense Legion refuting a fake report that COVID-19 was created by an American scientist Charles Lieber, who then sold it to China.
For more information about EWMI ACCESS’s response in Georgia visit: www.ewmi-access.org
Georgia —
Promoting Rule of Law in Georgia (PROLoG) Activity
Judicial Support:
EMWI PROLoG developed a document highlighting how US and EU courts are dealing with management of the justice sector during the crisis, and shared it with the High Council of Justice (HCOJ) and Georgian courts. The program also recommended that the HCOJ organize a task force of justice institutions to coordinate response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Other task force members include representatives from the Ministry of Justice (MOJ), the Supreme Court, the Prosecutors Office, the Legal Aid Service (LAS), and the Georgian Bar Association (GBA). In light of new social distancing rules, PROLoG assisted Georgia’s judicial training institute, the High School of Justice (HSOJ) increase its capacity to conduct online/distance trainings, workshops.
Support to the PDO, LAS and GBA:
EWMI PROLoG provided technical assistance to Legal Aid Service (LAS) to conduct their meetings, trainings and workshops in online/distance format and is engaging an international expert to provide online technical assistance and training to the Ombudsman’s Office (Public Defenders Office, or PDO). Read more about PROLoG's technical assistance HERE.
Access to Justice and NGO support:
EMWI PROLoG is organizing online W-Talks (women talks) with leading women judges and NGOs leaders to discuss gender equality, in some cases reaching audiences of over 20,000. To learn more about W-Talks, click HERE. EWMI PROLoG is also providing support for online discussion/working meetings for the Coalition for a Transparent and Independent Judiciary and individual NGO. EMWI PROLoG has also implemented a COVID-19 Rapid Response Grants program to rapidly deploy resources to mitigate the effects of COVID-19 in Georgia, and ensure the rule of law and access to quality legal education and services. Grants have already been awarded to the Legal Aid Service and the Georigian Bar Association, read more HERE.
For more information about EMWI PROLoG’s response in Georgia, please visit: http://ewmi-prolog.org/en/home.
Mekong Region —
Open Development Initiative
As the Lower Mekong countries prepare to combat COVID-19, they face enormous challenges due to poor leadership, weak institutions and wide public mistrust that undermines progress towards democracy. The Open Development Mekong network, part of East-West Management Institute’s Open Development Initiative, is working towards distributing open datasets that help to provide reliable data and information to citizens. This has included the publication of data in Cambodia and Vietnam visualized in our interactive map explorer, which highlights hotspot areas at the provincial level. Additionally, Open Development Mekong is tracking and recording emergency laws and regulations that have been enacted as a response to COVID-19. These datasets and regulations, among other resources, can be found in our datahub.
In a newly published article, COVID-19 in the Mekong Region, Open Development Mekong explores how vulnerable groups in the Mekong Region are being impact by the COVID-19 pandemic and response measures implemented to try to combat it. The article specifically explores how a focus on counting cases and individuals excludes groups that are typically uncounted, such as indigenous and ethnic minorities, refugees and internally displaced peoples, migrants, urban slum-dwellers, and people working in the formal sector. Missing the experiences and needs of these groups will exacerbate existing inequalities. Open Development Mekong will use a rights-based development perspective to examine the pandemic’s intersectional impacts in the Lower Mekong Countries (LMC). They will explore how open data platforms like those of Open Development Initiative (ODI) and civic tech might provide better solutions.
North Macedonia —
USAID Civic Engagement Project in Macedonia (CEP)
CEP is using its Facebook Page to help promote health safety measures. CEP COP, Goran Lazarevski has posted a video challenging North Macedonians to help #FlattenTheCurve. To learn more about how CEP is responding to the pandemic, please visit: www.cep.mk and https://www.facebook.com/CEPNorthMacedonia/.
