In times of crisis, marginalized communities are often overlooked as governments, under pressure to move quickly to deliver policy responses, neglect the particular social vulnerabilities of these groups. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis in Libya, the National Democratic Institute’s (NDI’s) civil society partners from the “Access” campaign have been advocating for inclusive policies to recognize the particular challenges faced by persons with disabilities (PWDs). At the onset of the pandemic, proposed government policies did not incorporate the needs of PWDs.

Disinformation is a global challenge. It’s inflicting damage in many spheres of our lives. Perhaps most alarming is that it’s threatening democracy worldwide. People need access to reliable, authentic information to exercise their democratic rights and responsibilities. Good information is the oxygen of a thriving democracy. It is key to transparent government, and vital for citizens’ ability to hold governments to account. 

In Yopougon, a suburb of Côte d’Ivoire’s economic capital Abidjan, angry youth gathered on the evening of April 5th to destroy a planned COVID-19 testing center. This testing center was one of many the government was constructing across Abidjan in response to an increasing number of cases -- 261 as of April 5th. But in contrast to citizens around the world all demanding not just more tests, but more accessible tests, the young people in Yopougon had a very different reaction to the government’s COVID-19 response. Why? 

What do you do when your favorite uncle shares a news article from a questionable source with claims that you know are untrue or distorted? Would you take the time to find a reputable article on the topic and hope he reads it? Or, do you prefer to shake your head, disengage and mute the family text group? 

In the face of the spread of COVID-19 in Tunisia, one of NDI’s longstanding citizen election observation partners, Mourakiboun, is stepping up to make its data available to decision-makers and encouraging local CSOs to start evidence-based preventative initiatives in their communities.

As COVID-19 becomes a leading governance challenge around the world, local governments are at the front lines of the effort to combat the spread of the virus. Following the first appearance of coronavirus in Tunisia, municipal councils established local crisis committees across the country to improve local government responses to COVID-19 and create safer environments for citizens. Civil society organizations (CSOs), political parties and elected officials are coming together through these committees to help communities combat the spread of COVID-19.

Given the current intensity of the COVID-19 global pandemic, many countries are declaring states of emergency. In some instances, these declarations may intend to contain the virus, but they can also represent a calculated attempt to erode democracy. To guard against opportunistic authoritarian governments leveraging COVID-19 to expand executive power at the expense of rule of law, legislative oversight, and human rights, NDI is monitoring four key indicators:

• separation of powers and executive authority in emergencies