In 2020, global health has gone from a fringe issue to the forefront of people’s mind, all thanks to COVID-19. The last time the entire world came close to being as focused on a pandemic threat was over two decades ago, when HIV/AIDS was killing almost 4,000 people every day and new infections doubled year after year. Since then, the global response to AIDS has become a success story, and AIDS-related deaths have been cut by more than half. Today,...
Africa launches the largest trials of treatments for mild and moderate COVID-19 cases, mayors join forces to tackle gender inequality, and UK cuts its aid budget. Plus, a look at which countries have gender-balanced cabinets. Here are six crucial stories you may have missed this month. Africa’s largest COVID treatment trial launches A network of 13 African countries joined forces with global researchers to launch Africa’s largest clinical trial of potential COVID-19 treatments. The Anticov study aims to identify treatments for mild...
Edith Esinam Asamani-Wasie, a GPE Youth Advocate in Ghana, is weighing in on the realities of gender-based violence, especially during COVID-19, and the steps everyone can take to achieve gender equality. The pandemic has socioeconomically affected more girls and women than boys and men. First, despite progress, there is still a gender disparity in access to education. The pandemic led to the closure of schools and movement of most physical classes to virtual platforms, where there is a gender digital...
In order to end this pandemic, everyone must play their part, and that includes the private sector. Their leadership, innovation, skills, knowledge, and financial muscle are desperately needed. This crisis has undoubtedly taken a heavy toll on businesses, but the quickest way to get back on track is to end the pandemic. Companies can play a critical role in getting vaccines and other treatments to the people globally who need them. Whether through investing in the ACT-Accelerator initiative, committing to...
With Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna, and AstraZeneca all announcing this month that their vaccine candidates for COVID-19 are proving to be highly effective in clinical trials, the world is closer to finding a safe and effective vaccine to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the pandemic will not end with a vaccine, but when everyone, everywhere has equal access to it. That’s why we launched our Vaccine Access Test in September. The Test provides the framework to answer one important question: Are the...
Megan Gieske is a storyteller and photographer based in Cape Town, South Africa. Under Cape Town Together, communities long-divided over racial lines are uniting to help those in-need. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic and ensuing financial crisis in South Africa, Mzikhona Mgedle lost his job in the non-profit sector, but he wasn’t backing down. He started the Langa CAN, “community action network,” to meet the specific needs of his community, and he wasn’t alone. Mzikhona Mgedle is part of a growing movement to...
As we’ve seen with education, work, healthcare, and other socioeconomic factors, COVID-19 is once again impacting women and girls disproportionately compared to their male counterparts. The pandemic is yet another illustration of the obstacles to gender equality that remain, explains Najat Vallaud-Belkacem, gender equality advocate and ONE’s France director. Najat argues that the pandemic has left “women rendered invisible” and has “significantly worsened” their living conditions. COVID-19 is bringing new urgency to the global fight for gender equality. “If we look...
Global coverage of protests against police brutality in Nigeria continues, as Tanzanians head to the polls in a crucial election. And as government representatives gathered virtually for the World Health Summit, a new study finds a global mental health crisis and African nations announce plans to increase the use of rapid diagnostic COVID-19 tests. Here are six crucial stories you may have missed this month. Nigerian protests against police brutality in the global spotlight Earlier this month, Nigerian security forces opened fire...
The world is racing to find safe and effective vaccines against COVID-19, and world leaders are making deals for promising COVID-19 vaccine candidates and speaking about the need for vaccine equity. As this happens, we want them to know that we’re watching. That’s why in September, ONE launched the Vaccine Access Test. The Test provides the framework to answer one question: Are the actions taken by world leaders and players moving us closer to or further from an equitable outcome...
This year’s Nordic Council annual session, held between 24-30 October, is more important than ever before. Of course, this year it will look a little different, with meetings taking place online and the number of debates limited. However, it remains an important time in the region’s political calendar. This year UN Secretary-General António Guterres will join the conversation about COVID-19’s impact on the Nordic region, as well as the world. The Nordic Council facilitates greater cooperation between Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Norway,...