HOW THE CONVERGING CRISES OF COVID, CLIMATE AND CONFLICT ARE IMPACTING AFRICAN COUNTRIES (AND WHAT THE G7 SHOULD DO ABOUT IT)

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is a watershed moment. It has caused devastation in Ukraine, created a European refugee crisis and is sending shockwaves through commodity and energy markets. This is already creating a global food crisis with prices hitting their highest levels in history in March – but also jeopardises the global pandemic recovery and increases the economic strain that many countries were already facing.

All of this comes at a time when the COVID pandemic is far from over and its economic aftershocks have left the economies of many African countries weakened and vulnerable to debt distress.

Even before the invasion, policy makers in G7 countries had opted to “live with the virus” while 88% of the population of low income countries have not been vaccinated. This persistent gap between rich and poor countries creates a crippling blind spot in our collective ability to end the pandemic and threatens to undermine recoveries everywhere.

While leaders’ attention is understandably focused on Ukraine, the world risks a dangerous destabilisation if we do not tackle these converging crises together. The ONE Campaign is calling on G7 leaders to:

1. Address the economic impact of the converging crises of COVID, conflict, and climate
2. Ensure tools to fight COVID-19 are available to all
3. Support the Global Fund’s fight against current and future diseases

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