SOCIAL PROTECTION DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC: TIME TO RETHINK EXPANDING COVERAGE IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

Abstract

In December 2019, the Covid-19 pandemic erupted in China and quickly spread worldwide. So far, the pandemic has created a twin challenge for governments; an enormous public health crisis and mounting economic decline. Governments to varying degrees have responded to the pandemic using both fiscal and monetary policies. The monetary policy responses from sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries have been piecemeal and incomprehensive. However, estimates suggest that SSA countries might experience the worst economic impacts of the pandemic. Even worse, the region has historically had low levels of social protection coverage. Over the years, calls to expand social protection coverage in the region have been met with resistance on the basis of a supposed lack of affordability. But can SSA countries afford not to expand social protection any longer? The aim of this paper, therefore, is to examine what the Covid-19 might tell us about social protection systems in Africa