Aidan Eyakuze: Covid-19 may alter the social contract between citizens and their governments

In this fourth “Coronavignette,” we continue to share conversations with leaders of civil society organizations we support on how Covid-19 affects their work.

Aidan Eyakuze is Executive Director of Twaweza East Africa, which is headquartered in Tanzania with staff also based in Kenya and Uganda. Twaweza works on two related and rising problems throughout the region: 1) that citizens are unable to influence the forces that shape their lives; and 2) the deteriorating basic conditions for meaningful citizen participation, including the freedoms of expression, association and assembly.

In the 10-minute video, Aidan describes:

• How the governments of Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania reacted differently to Covid-19.
• How Tanzania has emulated Sweden’s approach to Covid, but without Sweden’s health infrastructure.
• A debate facilitate by Twaweza about whether civil society should scrutinize the government during a time of emergency.
• The economic effects of Covid as tourism and trade subside and inequality increases.
• What is the role of civil society to spark active citizenship during a time of such dependence on government decision-making?