The situation

On 16 March, the first case of Covid-19 was reported in Benin. Farmers' families were quickly affected by the containment measures, as it became difficult to go to the various urban markets in Cotonou to sell their produce. Supplies of certain foodstuffs were also made more difficult by the closure of borders. In the Atacora region, fonio sales have been particularly poor. Stocks are therefore high, and the arrival of the rainy season is likely to damage them. In the south of the country, cassava processing cooperatives are facing a shortage of raw materials.

THE SITUATION

Bolivia declared a total quarantine and closed its borders at the end of March. Despite this, Covid-19 has gained ground and the health system, already failing, cannot cope with the influx of patients. Patients are being sorted out in the streets and there is a shortage of equipment and medicines to treat them in the health centres. Medical staff are highly exposed and lack protection. From an economic point of view, the small businesses we are supporting are suffering particularly badly, as this situation is preventing them from selling their produce.

THE SITUATION

The DRC announced a state of emergency on 25 March, involving numerous confinement measures. These measures have led to a scarcity of essential manufactured goods (which are usually imported), but also to soaring prices for local products, particularly agricultural produce, which has doubled in price. The suspension of a large proportion of economic activities has led to the loss of many jobs (both formal and informal). Many families are suffering from hunger, and there is a risk that the number of children left on the streets will soar.

The situation

Cambodia has been spared the brunt of the virus in our various areas of operation. In mid-March, the Cambodian government took strict measures to avoid population movements. Today, the kingdom remains one of the few countries not to have suffered any casualties. On the socio-economic front, however, there are major concerns, with the crisis affecting three of the country's economic engines: tourism, manufactured exports and foreign direct investment. These engines account for 70% of the country's growth and 40% of its paid employment.

THE SITUATION

The ‘big island’ closed its borders on 19 March and a state of health emergency was declared two days later. The confinement and restrictions on movement between the different regions of the country are severely hampering commercial and economic activities, and the people who make their living from selling their agricultural or fishing produce are particularly hard hit by this market paralysis. The families of groundnut growers that we support are particularly hard hit.

Within our learning community, I have been looking more specifically at intersectionality (a concept aimed at revealing the plurality of discrimination) in gender-based violence. When it interacts with other forms of exclusion based on origin, socio-economic status, age, etc., the effects accumulate and shape their sense of power, resilience and position in social and economic life. Our programme to support healthcare systems in Bolivia therefore takes into account the many forms of marginalisation faced by women.

In Cambodia, women are supported to engage in sustainable agricultural practices and entrepreneurial activities. For example, after joining a savings group, they have access to more goods and services and can then take on a greater role within their families. Several women have even initiated their own women farmers' group to discuss community issues, but also health and wellbeing aspects.

Every year, our team welcomes many interns, students and researchers who are interested in our projects. So it's only natural that we should call on this pool of motivation and knowledge to help us analyse and develop our approach to gender and our actions aimed specifically at women. Three students answered our call. They share their experiences with us.

Why did you choose to do your internship at LC?

Louvain Coopération and its partners are implementing numerous actions aimed, directly or indirectly, at equality between women and men. At the dawn of our new five-year programme, it was essential to question the diversity of approaches chosen by these projects, their contextualisation, the methodologies used and, of course, the objectives of societal transformation targeted.

Louvain Coopération is also active in Burundi to improve access to healthcare through community health insurance schemes. This year, a brand new initiative is taking shape, with a particular focus on women's health and women's representation within the mutual health organisations.