COVID-19 recovery and beyond: An African feminist vision for macroeconomic system change

Abstract

This article provides an analysis of the impact of COVID-19 on the lives of women in Africa and the extent to which government policies designed to respond to the social and economic shocks caused by the pandemic have addressed wider, persistent gender inequalities. We argue that while there have been some laudable policy efforts across the continent, they have not only been largely gender-blind, but have also potentially deepened gender inequalities. We find that although some measures like cash transfers, various forms of tax cuts and public employment schemes may have benefited women, they did not take into account the more systemic and gendered exclusionary factors, such as the ability to access payment infrastructure and digital financial services, household care burdens and division of labour, access to decent paid work and the dynamics of formal versus informal work. Containment measures were implemented without much evidence for mitigation planning around increased unpaid care and domestic workloads or escalations in gender-based violence. We make the case for a rethink of the predominant economic models that have kept Africa in a financial chokehold, severely limiting the ability of governments to deliver on the social and economic rights of their people. Ultimately, we draw on African feminist positions to recommend a set of policy directions that could form the backbone for fundamental system change, which, as this pandemic has shown us, is crucial for the economic health of the continent and the wellbeing of the African people.