The Role of Local Resources in Mitigating the Impact of Covid-19

Abstract

Governments often found it challenging to mitigate the negative socioeconomic impacts of Covid-19 for households in and near poverty. Local efforts were critical to supplement government measures and implement government guidelines. In Ethiopia, these efforts mobilised a pre-existing, government supported village network system. In Bangladesh, a network of formal and informal strategies played an important role in increasing assistance to people affected by the pandemic, including through industry-based corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives. This policy brief outlines local responses to and lessons learnt from mitigating the negative socioeconomic impacts of Covid-19.