More and more already fragile nations in sub-Saharan Africa are being forced to face the hardships brought by sometimes concurrent climate-, politics- or health-related emergencies. CUAMM’s response is a long-term strategic approach based on solid networks and knowledge of local realities,to continue to foster resilient forms of development.

A snapshot of the situation in Africa today: regions and even entire states overwhelmed by war, political instability and climate phenomena such as drought and floods, and now the scourge of COVID-19 as well. What is the impact of all this on economic growth? We asked Giovanni Carbone.

Early warning systems are internationally recognized as an integrated tool for monitoring, forecasting and assessing disaster risks and helping to increase preparedness. Using them at the community level, with the active participation of local populations, can be critical for preventing risks and activating timely responses in the event of emergencies in the global South.

With only 6.6% of Africa’s population fully vaccinated against COVID-19, we could describe the current scenario as a kind of “vaccine apartheid”. Low vaccination rates and scarce bilateral agreements in the global South have worldwide consequences, with new variants of the virus threatening even countries that stockpiled vaccines.

How does Doctors with Africa CUAMM respond to a scenario of increasingly protracted and structural emergency crises? By integrating our approach to the latter into our very modus operandi: deep knowledge of local contexts, trust in people, and investment in communities. By thinking and acting beyond the immediate crisis, we help build a capacity for resilience.