| dc.description | The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed and exacerbated economic, societal and environmental challenges globally and especially in Africa. The ripple effects of the largescale worldwide disruption brought about by the Pandemic are expected to continue for many years to come. It is envisaged that the COVID-19 pandemic will affect resource availability far into the future and put further pressure on the African region’s already severely constrained resources, reinforcing the need to develop safeguards, especially to protect the most vulnerable sectors of society including women and that youth that are the most adversely effected by the economic fallout of the pandemic. Worldwide, governments have been redirecting funds away from conservation and environment related activities and tourism revenue has plummeted, causing revenues of parks and nature reserves to dry up significantly. There has been a, sharp rise in rural poverty and the phenomenon of reverse migration caused by migrant labourers being forced to temporarily leave urban areas under lockdown, resulting in additional pressure on natural resources, wildlife and ecosystems. The Pandemic has exacerbated the multitude of inter-related crises that African and other developing countries are facing, including exacerbating already unsustainable debt levels, African countries urgently need stepped-up, new and additional and appropriate forms of financial support from other countries and partners. | en_US |
