Crises and the COVID-19 pandemic: education responses and choices during times of disruptions low-income countries started a COVID-19 Relief Fund for donations to alleviate the financial burden the pandemic has rendered. However, in South Africa for example, corruption and misuse of funds has reduced the number of interventions as well as longevity of interventions that could potentially mitigate the pandemic effects. However, In Botswana, the government established a COVID-19 Relief Fund to the value of 2 billion pula, translating to 1% of the GDP. The fund will pay salaries for businesses affected by the pandemic, build up fuel and grain reserves and fund a government loan guarantee scheme for businesses which are tax compliant. Further, in Zambia, export duties on precious metals as well as import duties on mineral concentrates were suspended to provide relief for the mining sector. Tax penalties and fees on outstanding tax penalties resulting from the pandemic have been waived. Furthermore, the “government has also issued an 8-billion-kwacha [sic] bond (2.4% of GDP) to finance COVID-19 related expenses, including health spending, arrears clearance, and grain purchases, as well as a recapitalization of the development bank (NATSAVE)” (International Monetary Fund, 2020).
5. Other effects of COVID 19 A. Impact of crises and disruptions on gender equality Whilst there has been much progress in realising gender equality globally as advocated by the Sustainable Development Goal 5, COVID 19 has demonstrated that crises and disruptions are never gender neutral in their effects. In 2020, the United Nations reported that poor and marginalised women were at higher risk of contracting the virus, of losing their livelihoods and at an increased risk of violence, including sexual violence (UNWOMEN, 2020). The economic effects of the COVID 19 pandemic has been felt the most in industries where women are the majority, such as domestic workers, factory workers and the hospitality industry. These uneven effects result from policy responses to mitigate the spread of the virus that called for school closures, isolation and social distancing. Whilst the effects of school closures, as discussed elsewhere in this report, demonstrates the negative effects on learners, particularly in low income regions and within poor communities, women were also adversely affected as they bore the brunt of childcare responsibilities impacting on their earning potential as juggling home 75
