African Development Fund boosts COVID-19 fight in 6 countries

The African Development Fund has approved nearly $8.9 million in grant funding to bolster COVID-19-related control measures in six Southern African Development Community countries.

The funds will facilitate the procurement of laboratory and medical supplies, including testing kits, personal protective gear and non-invasive ventilators in Lesotho, Malawi, Madagascar, Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

The pandemic is projected to have a substantial economic impact on the SADC member countries. For instance, real GDP in all the SADC countries, except Zimbabwe, is forecast to contract in 2020.