There is considerable evidence that COVID-19 has an uneven effect on women across the globe. The case is worse for African women as they battle with poverty and the shock of the coronavirus pandemic. COVID-19 directly impacts on women-owned enterprises and while many are folding up, some are navigating strategies to contain the emerging trend. According to a new assessment by the International Labour Organization (ILO), the economic and labour crisis created by the COVID-19 pandemic could increase global unemployment by almost 25 million, with developing countries accounting for the highest numbers.
1. 1ST INNOVATIONBED.AFRICA FESTIVAL 2020
PRESENTATION BY
CINDERELLA OCHU
PHD STUDENT, UNIVERSITY OF JOHANNESBURG,
JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA.
219126442@STUDENT.UJ.AC.ZA
3. INTRODUCTION
• There is considerable evidence that COVID-19 has an uneven effect on
women across the globe. The case is worse for African women as they
battle with poverty and the shock of the coronavirus pandemic.
• COVID-19 directly impacts on women-owned enterprises and while
many are folding up, some are navigating strategies to contain the
emerging trend.
• According to a new assessment by the International Labour Organization
(ILO), the economic and labour crisis created by the COVID-19
pandemic could increase global unemployment by almost 25 million,
with developing countries accounting for the highest numbers.
4. THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC IMPACT OF COVID 19
In analyzing the social and economic impact of COVID-19 through a
gender lens, the points below are fundamental:
• Women are more likely to be in service sectors in the front line of
COVID support (from personal support workers to grocery clerks) and
as such, prone to the virus.
• As people work from home (WFH) due to lockdowns, women bear the
brunt of unpaid work including childcare/homeschooling, domestic
chores and care of the elderly.
• The workload also impacts negatively on the health of women,
especially pregnant women.
• Millions around the world have become unemployed because businesses
had to close or severely restrict their operations, leaving especially those
in low-skill and low-income positions, many of which are held by
women, in situations of even higher economic distress.
5.
6. THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC IMPACT OF COVID 19 (Contd)
• In addition to the aforementioned, due to restricted access to education
and training, structural barriers and social norms prevalent in Africa,
women entrepreneurs are also disproportionately represented at the
micro, small and medium level, and women-owned businesses tend to be
concentrated in sectors with lower profit margins than men.
• The number of women found in technology oriented sector is minimal
when compared to men. Thus, African women are less knowledgeable
and ill-equipped in ICT and struggle to operate at this time.
• Generally, deeply-rooted structural gender inequalities that exist in
Africa, results in unequal access to resources and opportunities for
women.
• There is a surge in domestic violence during the coronavirus lockdown.
South Africa for instance had been grappling with the scourge of
violence against women long before lockdown was imposed and It only
grew worse. "The country battles another deadly epidemic of gender-
based violence," the Daily Maverick newspaper warned recently as it
became clear the virus had hit South Africa hard. South Africa records
the highest cases in Africa.
8. INNOVATION IN THE AGE OF COVID -19
• Transition to digital innovations is one of the critical survival factors in
the COVID crisis and many women entrepreneurs are diverting to this to
transform and sustain their businesses.
• Women entrepreneurs are leveraging on e-commerce and reverting to
online sales to sell their products and sustain their clientele. This
explains why online retailers/stores such as Jumia, Takealot, Amazon and
host of others are thriving at this time.
• Women are also advertising their products using social media platforms
such as YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and Whatsapp. This is
particularly useful to owners of SMEs.
9. INNOVATION IN THE AGE OF COVID -19 (Contd)
• Other entrepreneurs in the service sector
now communicate with staff/clients
with the aid of Microsoft Teams,
Zoom, Skype
and other similar tools.
• Despite the advantages of these platforms
to the growth of businesses, many women in Africa cannot access
these technologies due to erratic power supply and lack of skill.
10. CONCLUSION/RECOMMENDATIONS
The pandemic is an eye-opener to those who have trivialized the role of
technology. Unfortunately, many women-led establishments without online
presence or wherewithal have liquidated as a result of COVID-19.
However, some are empowering and challenging themselves
technologically in order to remain in business. This effort can also serve as
a post-pandemic initiative. As such, government support is required.
11. To this end, the paper puts forward the following recommendations:
• Gender inclusiveness in planning and leadership
o Amid the coronavirus pandemic, a clear trend has emerged; nations
led by women have been more proactive at managing the crisis. From
Germany's Angela Merkel and New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda
Ardern, to Finland's Sanna Marin, Norway's Erna Solberg, female
leaders have reportedly fought COVID-19 outbreaks more efficiently
than many others, registering lower cases and lower death rates.
o This explains why the United Nations, through its initiative “Women
Rise for All”, is putting women leaders at the forefront of its call to
action to meet the challenges of the COVID-19 crisis.
12. Recommendations (Contd).
• Gender must be central to post COVID 19 economic recovery
o Government relief funds needs to target hard-hit women-led enterprises,
grassroot women entrepreneurs and businesses in feminized sectors.
• Technology is the way
o The importance of technology is profound and cannot be
overemphasized. Therefore, providing an enabling environment for
women to freely access and explore digital opportunities is crucial.
