Ethiopian Baseline Report: Covid-19 and The Youth Question in Africa: Response, Impacts and Prevention Measures in the IGAD Region

Abstract

The emergence of COVID-19, which has metamorphosed from a small outbreak to a global pandemic and a public health emergency of international concern, has resulted huge socioeconomic impacts on poor countries like Ethiopia. Whilst epidemiologists and public health personnel are focused on the devastating health impacts, there is evidence to suggest that the widespread socio-economic and political impact of COVID-19 has adversely affected communities and economies especially among the young people. Young people in Africa have significant challenges realizing their rights during this period of the COVID-19 pandemic. They are undergoing a lot of challenges such as climate change, state fragility, poor governance, economic and social inequalities and inequities, discriminatory social norms, human rights violations among others. Yet few countries offer opportunities for the youth to participate in political processes or in designing programs and policies that aim at addressing these issues.