Uncovering the Gendered Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic in South Sudan: What Resilience and Recovery measures are needed?

The policy measures introduced following the emergence of COVID-19 pandemic havedramatically disrupted the daily livelihood of low-income female-headed households. Most ofthem are less-educated, self-employed or employed in informal sectors without social protectionor any kind of insurance. As care givers and head of households, the majority are involved inhand-to-mouth businesses, own fewer assets and live in densely populated areas which puts themat high-risk of exposure to the COVID-19 infection.Literature indicates that social distancing and stay at home policies can contribute to flattening ofthe curve of infections and reduce pressure on health systems. Yet, such measures are lessproductive in the absence of alternative sources of income and livelihood. Women and girls aredisproportionately affected due to increased burden of unpaid work, gender-based violence, foodinsecurity, poverty and economic hardship. While there is inadequate health services and denselypopulated households, COVID-19 has increased water usages by 50 percent. I argue thatunderstanding the gender-differentiated impacts of disease outbreak is fundamental to creatingeffective and equitable policies and interventions that will leave no one behind. The researchcalls for clear policies on economic recovery and food distribution, behavioral change,information sharing and continuous inclusion of women in planning and decision-makingstructures to ensure that their concerns are effectively integrated in the implementation andmonitoring of the COVID-19 prevention and response measures.