Through this together: In West and Central Africa, shows of solidarity through the pandemic

COVID-19 response in West and Central Africa 

In West and Central Africa, the UN Volunteers (UNV) programme took part in the COVID-19 response of UN entities and partners. Volunteers generated a phenomenal outpouring of solidarity and support to address the urgent needs of the communities. In many countries of the region, UNV re-directed funds generally earmarked for volunteer promotion to support the most vulnerable in this global fight against COVID-19. Together with other volunteering organizations and with the direct involvement of community members, UNV conducted awareness campaigns and provided local communities with necessary items to protect themselves against the Coronavirus: masks, hand-washing kits and other hygiene items. 

Mask delivery in Congo

In Brazzaville, Congo, despite a great surge of solidarity, part of the population still struggles to afford masks to protect themselves from the pandemic. UNV, in partnership with France Volontaires and the RAVSI platform, launched the Mask4All initiative and distributed 2,500 masks to 1,100 vulnerable people, including elderly and disabled persons, as well as pregnant women. Ten young seamstresses were recruited to produce the masks; a way to encourage these young women entrepreneurs.  

Awareness campaign in Nigeria

UN Volunteers from Nigeria developed leaflets in local languages and conducted an awareness campaign on social media, Education as a Vaccine Against COVID. In partnership with other community-based organizations, they formed COVID-19 prevention champions that will further spread the message in their communities and beyond. Thus, in the communities of Dakwo and Kabusa, UN Volunteers offered masks and hand sanitizers to 400 people.  

Distribution of handwashing kits in Mali

In the commune of Ménaka in Mali, UN Volunteers working with MINUSMA distributed 10 complete handwashing kits, 15 boxes of soap, 100 masks, 16 alcohol-based gels and awareness posters to the Regional Youth Council, in the presence of the Head of the MINUSMA Regional Office, Regional Administrator, and the Head of the Human Rights and Protection Division. The President of the Regional Youth Council warmly thanked the volunteers for this precious material, that comes at a time when students are taking their baccalaureate exams. He says this will help prevent the spread of the coronavirus pandemic in schools. Also, the 60 UN Community Volunteers recruited by UNDP to support the national pandemic response plan distributed handwashing kits to internally-displaced persons in the Mabile and Faladiè Garbale centres of Bamako. Some 159 women, including 111 displaced persons, and 157 children, including 100 child beggars, received washable masks. 

COVID-19 awareness in Niger

In Niger, UNV supported the Cadre de Concertation des Associations de Jeunesse (CCAJ), which is a civil society organization comprised of students, in an awareness-raising campaign that reached more than 25,000 people in the markets of Niamey. For three days, the young volunteers explained to market users what to do and who to contact in case of symptoms, and how to prevent COVID-19 contamination. They posted educational posters and installed hand-washing facilities in the three largest markets of the city. 

Supporting proper hygiene in Benin

In a commune or section in southern Benin, six community-based UN Volunteers working with the World Food Programme (WFP) realized that the canteen schools there had no soap, leaving students to wash their hands with water only. To support proper hygiene during the pandemic, they UN Volunteers produced 500 liters of liquid soap, which they made available free nearly 25,000 students and more than 500 school staff members at 43 canteen schools in the commune. Said the volunteers, “This is our way of showing inspiration in action in the face of COVID.” 

Originally posted on UNV.org. Story by Bery Kandji,  Communications Analyst, UNV Regional Office for West and Central Africa. Editorial support by Paul VanDeCarr, Development Coordination Office.