The COVID-19 pandemic provides a stress test for all countries, but also for relations between them. In a webinar organised by the Overseas Development Institute, RAS director Nick Westcott joined a panel alongside Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr (Mayor of Freetown), David Pilling (Africa Editor, FT) and chair Marta Foresti (Director, ODI Europe) to discuss “Africa beyond COVID-19”.

Westcott asked which countries have stepped up as Africa’s real partners in the crisis, pointing out that China had been generous with PPE (through Jack Ma) but less so with Africa’s debts and that the US’s de-funding of the WHO was profoundly unhelpful. He suggested that multilaterals – such as the IMF, World Bank, AfDB and EU – had provided the most significant (though still incomplete) support to Africa and that it was in the continent’s interest that they continue to be strong, effective and well-funded.

Watch the whole webinar below: