Covid Watch Africa Initiative (CWAI)

CWAI was developed under JEUNES VERTS Togo’s leadership and launched in April 2020 to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic as a credible alternative information hub on the pandemic in Africa. The platform provides real-time verified information and data on the state of the pandemic in each of the 55 African countries. Our primary activities include, presenting specific social and economic measures taken by different African governments during the COVID-19 to the public, and these measures incorporate travel restrictions, civic restrictions, and official governments resources. The platform also provides an overview of the different policies implemented by governments in Africa to tackle the pandemic, a data explorer to understand the evolution of the pandemic over time in all African countries. As well as showcases economic data with Monetary Policy Responses multilateral funds tracker along with vaccine distribution and testing trackers. To monitor and document the impact of the pandemic on civic freedoms in Africa, CWAI provides tools that allow the creation of an inclusive space where various actors of civil society across the continent discuss the impact of the pandemic on their activities and exchange best practices for the adaptation to the pandemic, especially in terms of digital security, emergency laws and policies, as well as digital civil engagement. CWAI is also engaged in national and regional collaborative advocacy projects with partner organizations. Our projects are mainly focused on responding to the pandemic, in relation to Human Rights violations and the promotion and protection of Civic space with an additional focus on accountability and transparency around the pandemic relief funds received in the various African governments. Among the flagship projects, are efforts towards accountability in the use COVID-19 relief funds in West Africa and strategic litigation before regional courts in East Africa on Digital Rights violation amidst the pandemic.