Managing The Culture of Operating in Silos: An African Perspective to Production and Distribution of Vaccine for Covid-19 Pandemic

Abstract

This paper examines how cooperation within the African states in the production and distribution of vaccine for the Covid-19 pandemic could be enhanced. The paper is both conceptual and empirical in nature. Document review and observation method were utilised to generate data pertaining to the scrambling for vaccine by African states. Research findings revealed that firstly, the existence of the conspiracy theories around the vaccine for Covid-19 pandemic was problematic. Secondly, mistaking collaboration of African states for ceding and compromising of individual sovereignty was a predicament. Thirdly, maintaining of strong ties with the erstwhile colonisers was a barrier. Fourthly, excessive reliance on the vaccine produced outside the borders of the African states, compromises sufficient cooperation and collaboration within the member countries. Lastly, the entrenched culture of operating in silos by African states was making resource mobilisation for the vaccine of Covid-19 difficult. The researcher recommends for the burden-sharing approach by the African states towards the acquisition and distribution of the Covid-19 vaccine. Finally, the researcher recommends for the disruption of the ways of thinking within the African states that uphold strong ties with erstwhile colonisers than with their neighbours and member states.

Keywords: Conspiracy, Colonisers, Distribution, Pandemic, Production, Silos, Sovereignty, Vaccine